The 10-day workshop on the Buddhist Vihar at Paharpur in Naogaon under the UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers 2024 campaign concluded on Wednesday.
Participants were awarded certificates at a closing ceremony held at the Department of Archaeology auditorium in Agargaon in Dhaka.
The workshop, held from October 15 to 24 in Dhaka and Paharpur, was organised by the research organisation, Perceive, and supported by the Department of Archaeology and the Bangladesh National Museum.
During the workshop, participants visited the Paharpur Buddhist Monastery, the local museum, and nearby villages.
They also participated in a terracotta craftsmanship workshop in a local artisan village, and attended lectures on cultural preservation.
Participants from multidisciplinary backgrounds gave two presentations on their experience of visiting the World Heritage site, where they shared that around 3,000 terracotta pieces remained in storage due to a lack of display space.
They also noted that the Great Monastery is at risk of damage, as the low-lying areas become inundated with water during the rainy season, and the poor drainage system exacerbates the problem.
Deputy director of the archaeology department Juhurul Islam and Bangladesh Bauddha Kristi Prachar Sangha vice-president Swaroopananda Bhikkhu, who were present as guests, emphasised strengthening community engagement to conserve the monastery.
The executive director of Perceive Fatiha Polin conducted the event. 聽
