‘Learning from Puran Dhaka’ begins at AFD

A living exhibition and an open workshop titled ‘Learning from Puran Dhaka: The Urbanity of Occupations along the Buriganga Riverfront’ is underway at La Galerie of the Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD).

The inaugural ceremony of the exhibition took place on Saturday evening on the gallery premises, where Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy and Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh Chargé d’affaires Thijs Woudstra were present.

Led by the EUNIC cluster in Bangladesh and the EU Delegation in Bangladesh the long-running heritage initiative, “River Heritage: Learning from Puran Dhaka,” is in its third chapter, with support from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh.

Several local partners, including Dhaka South City Corporation, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Brihatta Arts Foundation, Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute are also working on this project.

Over 50 architectural students and faculties from architecture schools in Dhaka, Mumbai, Trivandrum, and Paris will work on the project.

The students will be split into working groups to investigate topics such as endangered heritage, circular economy, urban agriculture, innovation as part of traditional activities, informal sectors, and the way public space is distributed and corporate culture in the eight river docks in Old Dhaka.

Throughout this workshop and exhibition, students will exhibit drawings, maps, sketches, observations, and photographs of Old Dhaka.

Several cultural activities will follow the project throughout its length to inspire thought and curiosity about Old Dhaka’s tangible and intangible heritage.

The exhibition is open for all every day from 3pm to 9pm, until February 20.