United States investment in preserving Bangladesh’s cultural heritage has surpassed the $1 million across 13 major projects over the last 25 years, US Ambassador Brent T Christensen said on Monday.
He shared the update during a courtesy call on Cultural Affairs Minister for Nitai Roy Chowdhury at Secretariat, where he highlighted a new $235,000 grant under the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP).
A legacy of preservation
The latest funding brings total US contribution through the AFCP to over $1 million since its inception in Bangladesh. The initiatives include the restoration of the Mughal-era Musa Khan Mosque at Dhaka University, which focuses on reclaiming authentic Islamic architectural features, creating a digital archive, and training young architects in conservation.
Other notable projects supported by the fund include the restoration of the 17th-century Shakhari Bazar in Old Dhaka, structural preservation at Lalbagh Fort, and the modernisation of the Varendra Research Museum. The AFCP has also documented intangible heritage, including Baul songs, Jamdani weaving, and ancient metal casting techniques.
Bilateral cooperation and festivals
During the cordial meeting, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs proposed the holistic development of historic Panam City in Sonargaon. Both sides discussed the feasibility of a joint “US-Bangladesh Cultural Festival,” collaborative events, and structured Cultural Artist Exchange programmes.
Regarding the pending draft of the Bilateral Cultural Cooperation Agreement, submitted by Bangladesh in 2013, Ambassador Christensen noted it is undergoing administrative and legal procedures and expressed a commitment to expedite the process once official clearance is obtained.
The minister congratulated US on its upcoming 250th independence anniversary celebrations, including “Freedom 250” and “America Week 2026.” He also extended an advance invitation to the Ambassador for the grand celebrations of ‘Nazrul Borsho’ (Nazrul Year).
The ambassador informed the minister that the US Library of Congress is highly interested in collecting and preserving the literary masterpieces of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, following a briefing on the ministry’s translation initiatives.
The US delegation included Faroha Suhrawardy (Cultural Affairs Specialist), Scott E Hartmann (Public Diplomacy Officer), Tariqul Islam Nahin (Press and Media Coordinator), and MBM Saad Bin Elahi (Protocol Assistant). Senior ministry officials were also present.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of souvenirs, with both dignitaries reaffirming their commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy.
