The cultural heritage of Bangladesh
is on the one hand an indicator of the country's history and
traditions, as well as it has a profound influence on the people's
lifestyle and society. Every part of Bangladesh's language movement,
liberation war, handicrafts of Bengal, religious ceremonies, music,
dance and architecture are an integral part of our national history.
These traditions are the witness of our history and it symbolizes the
self-identity of our nation. Cultural heritage is not only the holder
and bearer of the native culture, but it also expresses the identity of
Bangladesh in the international arena.
The need to protect
cultural heritage is a symbol of unity and unity of the country. Our
social responsibility is to preserve the heritage from generation to
generation, so that future generations can also be familiar with the
historical and cultural heritage. Cultural heritage protection requires
social awareness and proper government action, which will keep the
country's heritage intact.
The young generation is the future of a
country, and instilling interest and awareness in cultural heritage
among them is very important. In today's digital age, where the
influence of social media and technology is immense, youth are known to
be a powerful social force. If they properly understand the value and
importance of cultural heritage, they will be able to take an active
role in preserving the heritage.
Bangladesh has several important
laws for the preservation of cultural heritage, one of which is the
'Past Heritage and Archaeological Monuments Act, 1968'. This Act gives
importance to the protection of archaeological sites and monuments, so
that the history of the past can be preserved through preservation of
heritage. The cultural heritage of the country is preserved and
presented to the public through the 'National Museums Act, 1983'.
However,
there are some weaknesses in the implementation of these laws, such as
lack of adequate monitoring and proper measures by the government. In
many cases these laws have not been fully implemented due to
mismanagement and lack of proper monitoring of the country's historical
sites. Hence, there is a need for more rigor in law enforcement and
increased awareness of cultural heritage.
International
cooperation is very important to protect the cultural heritage of
Bangladesh. It has 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Jaflong in
Sylhet and Sundarbans. The UNESCO Convention 1970 is an international
agreement that unites countries around the world to prevent trafficking
in cultural property. Bangladesh as a member state of this agreement is
participating in the protection of heritage around the world.
International cooperation has increased with the inclusion of some
historical sites in Bangladesh in UNESCO's World Heritage List.
People's
participation is very important in preserving cultural heritage. If the
people are motivated to protect the heritage, it can be protected very
easily. For this, the government needs to take various programs to
increase awareness, so that people know how they can help preserve
heritage through their own initiative. Also, the relevant authorities
and laws for the preservation of cultural heritage need to be managed
more effectively.
Bangladesh
government has taken several activities to preserve cultural heritage
through international agreements and cooperation. However, Bangladesh's
legal framework needs to be strengthened to ensure the effective
implementation of these agreements, so that international cooperation at
the national level is more effective.
Several legal challenges
exist for the preservation of cultural heritage in Bangladesh. Incidents
of illegal smuggling, theft and destruction of artifacts often occur,
which destroys our heritage forever. Apart from this, there are many
obstacles in the implementation of the law, such as carelessness of
local administration and lack of public awareness. Appropriate steps
should be taken by the government to create awareness for the protection
of cultural heritage, such as strong monitoring systems and extensive
educational campaigns among the public.
Penalties for smuggling
of cultural artifacts in Bangladesh are clearly mentioned in the law.
Anti-trafficking measures have been taken under the 'Preservation of
Ancient Heritage and Archaeological Monuments Act, 1968'. Under this
Act, there are penalties for illegal excavation, smuggling or illegal
activities of archaeological monuments or historical sites. Punishment
can be imprisonment for 5 to 10 years and/or fine. A case is filed
against the person involved in the trafficking and penal action is
taken.
Besides, as per Section 11 of the 'Preservation of
Heritage and Archaeological Artifacts Act, 1968', if anyone violates
this Act and smuggles archaeological artefacts, he can be punished with
imprisonment of up to 10 years and fine. Although there are some
weaknesses in the implementation of this law, the authorities concerned
need to be more proactive in taking effective steps to curb illegal
trafficking.
People's participation is very important in
preserving cultural heritage. If the people are motivated to protect the
heritage, it can be protected very easily. For this, the government
needs to take various programs to increase awareness, so that people
know how they can help preserve heritage through their own initiative.
Also, the relevant authorities and laws for the preservation of cultural
heritage need to be managed more effectively.
There is a need to
strengthen the legal framework to protect cultural heritage in
Bangladesh. The government is taking various initiatives, such as
special budget allocations and creation of funds for the preservation of
cultural heritage, which can be helpful in protecting cultural
resources in the future. However, there is a need to increase public
awareness and strengthen law enforcement for heritage conservation, so
that our cultural heritage is safely preserved.
The writer is a LL.B. Student Department Of Law, World University of Bangladesh
