Heritage and Technology Integration Cell, DoA-BUET

🏛️ Call for Abstracts | ICOMOS TheoPhilos 2026
The ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Theory and Philosophy of Conservation and Restoration (TheoPhilos) invites abstracts on the theme:
"Amazing City: Historic Public Spaces in the Age of Climate Change"
📅 Application Deadline: 15 June 2026
We encourage our members, researchers, and students to explore this timely intersection of heritage conservation and climate resilience.

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝟏𝟑 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐚𝐭 𝟑:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌

Heritage and Technology Integration Cell (HERITEiNCE), Department of Architecture, BUET cordially invites you to a special documentary screening and discussion session.

We will be screening two documentaries exploring the lives of the forest-dependent communities:
🎬 "Between Culture and Claws: Life on the Edge of the Sundarbans"
🎬 "The Hive and the Hymn"

The screening will be followed by an open discussion regarding the EUNIC Cluster Bangladesh and Kolkata project, "Sundarbans Across the Borders: The Spirit of Cultural Resilience." This collaborative initiative is brought to you by project partners HERITEiNCE, Riverine People, and Team Platform.

📅 Date: Monday, 13 April 2026
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM onwards
📍 Venue: Room No: 501, Department of Architecture, BUET

Exhibition Note:
You can also view the architectural and ethnographic mappings from this project at the Department's Term-End-Exhibition, "Resonance," currently on display since 12 April 2026.

Both the discussion session and the exhibition are open to all. We look forward to welcoming students, alumni, and enthusiasts to join the dialogue.

Today at the Department of Architecture, BUET, the air in Room 501 was thick with the weight of two and a half millennia as the Heritage and Technology Integration Cell (DoA-BUET) hosted a captivating edition of Alaap. Guided by the profound expertise of Dr. Achia Khanom, we journeyed through the witnesses of time, the architectural marvels of ancient Bengal that still stand as silent sentinels of a highly sophisticated civilization. From the 3rd century BCE Buddhist monasteries of Wari-Bateshwar to the sprawling grandeur of Somapura Vihara, the discussion transcended mere ruins, framing these sites as masterclasses in ancient engineering and urban planning. The session bridged the gap between delicate numismatics, the study of ancient coins and inscriptions, and the massive terracotta structures they once funded. It was a powerful reminder that our path to the future is paved with the bricks of the past; by decoding the construction techniques and cultural legacies of our ancestors, we do not just study history, we learn how to build with purpose and identity.

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲

On 24 February, the HERiTEiNCE Cell, DoA, BUET, celebrated the successful book launch of ‘The Saline Quest for Honey’ at the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, an event held under the "Sundarbans Across Borders" initiative by EUNIC Cluster Bangladesh and the European Union. The program was expertly coordinated by Tahajibul Hossain, Assistant Professor at BUET and Coordinator of the HERiTEiNCE Cell, who also moderated a dynamic panel discussion on the socio-economic and built-environment challenges of the Sundarbans. The session was further enriched by Landscape expertise. Ar. Alia Shahed, Assistant Professor at BUET, attended as a landscape expert to share her insights on the delta’s ecological symbiosis and the unique landscape dynamics of the Satkhira region. Through collaborative ethnographic research and Gazir Pot-inspired visual storytelling, the event and the book highlighted the resilient lives of the Moual and Munda communities, marking a significant milestone in the collective effort to preserve the cultural and ecological heritage of the Sundarbans.

Image credit: Goethe-Institut Bangladesh/ Ahadul Karim Khan
and Sarwaar Jahan Apu

𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐚𝐩_𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝟎𝟐
𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹:
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆 : 28𝒕𝒉 𝑭𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚,𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 2026
𝑽𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒆 : 𝑹𝒐𝒐𝒎 501, 𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆,𝑩𝑼𝑬𝑻
𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 : 𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝑷𝑴

The archaeological and cultural heritage of ancient Bengal includes stone-built hand axes from the prehistoric period; metallic coins dating back approximately two and a half millennia; coin hoards; copperplate, inscriptions; sculptures; carvings; manuscripts crafted on valuable stone materials; manuscript garlands; ornaments; terracotta artworks (including terracotta plaques, bricks, sculptural pieces, votive stupa replicas, seals, pottery, beads, and toys); as well as architectural remains. Among these cultural heritages, architectural monuments that have stood as witnesses to the passage of time constitute one of the most significant legacies. The architectural sites discovered to date from ancient Bengal include the Buddhist monastery and temple at Wari-Bateshwar in Narsingdi District (3rd century BCE); Pundranagar (3rd century BCE) or Vasu Vihara at Mahasthangarh; Bharat Bhayana in Jessore (5th–7th century CE); Shalban Vihara at Lalmai-Mainamati in Cumilla (6th–13th century CE); Somapura Vihara or Paharpur Vihara in Naogaon (8th–13th century CE); Jagaddala Vihara; Halud Vihara; Sitakot Vihara in Dinajpur; Dorgormura and Harish Chandra’s Vita in Savar; and Bikrampuri Vihara in Munshiganj etc. These architectural remains of ancient Bengal bear evidence to a highly developed and prosperous civilization. Therefore, the study and scholarly exploration of architectural heritage are of supreme importance. The construction techniques of these historical structures continue to astonish and inspire us, and through their study, we may advance thoughtfully toward the future.

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 : 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗺
Dr. Achia Khanom is a distinguished archaeologist and the former Curator of the Taka Museum, Bangladesh Bank. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. from Jahangirnagar University and is a leading expert in numismatics, specializing in the decipherment of ancient, Sultanate, and Mughal coins. With a prolific academic background including one book and over 40 research publications, she has served in key roles at the Bangladesh National Museum and Shilpakala Academy. Dr. Khanom is also a renowned conservation specialist for paintings and terracotta, and currently serves as the Treasurer and Executive Board Member of ICOM Bangladesh.

Everyone is Welcome! Open for all!!
𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲!!

“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆” 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘀

An architectural and ethnographic study exploring the lives of forest-dependent communities in the Sundarbans is set to be unveiled next week with the publication of The Saline Quest for Honey. The book is the principal intellectual outcome of the collaborative project “Sundarbans Across Borders: The Spirit of Cultural Resilience,” jointly spearheaded by the Heritage and Technology Integration Cell (HERITEiNCE) of the Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and Riverine People Trust under the EUNIC Cluster Bangladesh and Kolkata 2025 initiative.
Based on extensive field research in Shyamnagar Upazila of Satkhira District, the publication documents the livelihoods and built environments of Moual (honey-collector) communities from Datinakhali and Mirgang, alongside the Munda indigenous settlement of Mundapara. The study examines geographical context, anthropological origins, ecological symbiosis with the mangrove forest, and the religious syncretism shaping everyday life, while analysing Indigenous Ecological Knowledge embedded within honey collection and resource extraction practices. Addressing contemporary realities, the book critically examines the impacts of climate change, policy anomalies, and restrictive economic systems that perpetuate vulnerability and debt among forest-dependent populations. Cultural erosion and the gradual disappearance of endemic art traditions—explored with project partner Team Platform—form another central narrative.
Visually, the publication integrates architectural mapping, ethnographic illustration, and photography. Illustrated by project researcher of HERITEiNCE, Anik Abdullah Aman, the narrative panels collectively form a larger mental map rendered in the local Patachitra tradition, while the complete composite artwork will be presented in the accompanying exhibition. Aman currently collaborates with the Nashik-based architectural comics collective The Leewardists. Produced as a non-profit endeavour, the book will not be commercially available; printed copies will be distributed through EUNIC partners, with an open-source e-book edition to be released soon for wider public access.

𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝑨𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔: 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉, 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚

The Heritage and Technology Integration Cell (HERITEiNCE), in collaboration with ‘R𝐢v𝐞r𝐢n𝐞 𝐏e𝐨p𝐥e T𝐫u𝐬t’, proudly announces its participation in the EUNIC Cluster Bangladesh and Kolkata 2025 project “Sundarbans Across Borders: The Spirit of Cultural Resilience.” Through an extensive field-based study in the Sundarbans region, researchers documented the livelihoods and built environments of Moual (honey-collector) communities from Datinakhali and Mirgang villages, as well as a Munda community from Mundapara in Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira District. The research explored geographical context, anthropological origins, ecological symbiosis with the forest, religious syncretism, and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge guiding honey collection and resource extraction. It further examined climate-change impacts, policy anomalies, and economic pressures contributing to persistent vulnerability, while cultural investigations led by ‘Team Platform’ highlighted the gradual erosion of endemic art forms. Despite these challenges, the study reveals remarkable psychological and cultural resilience among forest-dependent communities.
𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒉𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 22 𝑭𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 2026 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒍, 𝑭𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒅, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚” 𝒐𝒏 24 𝑭𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 2026 𝒂𝒕 4:00 𝑷𝑴 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆-𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕, 𝑫𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒊, 𝑫𝒉𝒂𝒌𝒂.

𝑬𝑼𝑵𝑰𝑪 𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝑴𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 “𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝑨𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔” 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉

On 25 June 2025, the EUNIC Cluster Bangladesh convened a coordination meeting at the Department of Architecture, BUET, hosted by the Heritage and Technology Integration Cell (HERITEiNCE). The session was chaired by Frank Werner, President of the cluster and Director of Goethe-Institut Bangladesh. Representatives from the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, British Council Bangladesh, and Alliance Française de Dhaka—including then Director Française Grosjean—attended alongside members of Riverine People Trust, eminent writers and subject experts Sheikh Rokon and Pavel Partha, as well as Hasib Zuberi Shihan from Team Platform. Representatives from the Embassies of Italy and Spain in Bangladesh, and the EUNIC Cluster Kolkata, joined online.
The principal agenda focused on reviewing the progress of the ongoing collaborative research under the project “Sundarbans Across Borders: The Spirit of Cultural Resilience” ahead of the scheduled field visit. Project updates were presented by HERITEiNCE Coordinator Tahajibul Hossain and researcher Simita Roy. The discussion concluded with positive feedback from partner institutions and formal approval to proceed to the next phase of the project.