Rajshahi University’s Varendra Museum brings heritage to life
On November 28, 2025, the Varendra Research Museum (VRM) at Rajshahi University, in collaboration with 2008 McGill University, Trans India, The Art and Culture of South Asia, Editors’ NOTE: this text will be paginated. There was no pagination in the hard copy, which had metamorphosed into a festive cultural balagan by hosting a day-long heritage festival in an exhibition dedicated to Bangladesh’s long and variegated history. Cosponsored by UNESCO, the ULAB, and the British Council, it brought together scholars (local and foreign), students, and heritage enthusiasts to one of Bangladesh’s most cherished storehouses of history.
Against the timeless backdrop of a centuries-old museum, the festival focused on ancient crafts. Between them, they included 25 exceptional highlights from the VRM’s collection – artefacts that together chart Bangladesh’s developing civilisation. Visitors were also treated to several historical and traditional wares, reflecting the country’s archaeological depth and community heritage.
If it is developed, it will be one of the best tourist spots in the world,” he said. Comparing Brand with other countries, Saleh Hasan Naqib, also a professor of the history department at RU and president of the Sheikh Russell Bir Uttam Mela Udjapan Parishad Rajshahi University unit, said there is no parallel in this region. Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib further mentioned that ‘with its rich tradition and culture, it reminds us of the whole of Bangladesh’s diversity.’ “He exemplified a Bangladesh in miniature, as it is unparalleled amidst beauties. “For years, the VRM—the first museum of East Bengal (now Bangladesh)—was a place for archaeology fanatics, and that continues to attract curiosity generation after generation,” he said.
Celebrated speakers who spoke at the occasion included RU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Farid Uddin Khan, UNESCO Chair at Durham University (UK) Prof. Robin Kanigham, Professor of Liberal Arts at Dhaka University, Shahnaz Husne Jahan, and British Council Bangladesh Country Director Stephen Favours. “VDI Director Prof. Kazi Mustafizur Rahman (Rashed) received participants with a warm note to open the day on which everyone came together for historical thoughts and cultural value.”
Founded on a dream fulfilled by Zamindar Kumar Sarath Kumar Roy of the Dighapatia royal house, historian-lawyer Akshay Kumar Maitreya, and Rajshahi Collegiate School teacher Ramaprasad Chandra, the Varendra Museum is still the custodian of the ancient legacy. Located adjacent to Hetamkhan Sadar Hospital in central Rajshahi, the museum preserves priceless evidence of civilisations since the Pala, Sena, Maurya and Gupta periods.
Not only did visionaries in the late 19th century recognise the need to preserve cultural memory, said Prof. Naqib. This renaissance movement finally led to the foundation of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, which proved instrumental in preserving many items from literature, history, and archaeology that perhaps would have been lost forever.
A fusion of academia, tradition and outreach at the VRM Heritage Festival not only paid homage to the past but signified a continued commitment to preserving Bangladesh’s cultural future.