Bangladesh, Türkiye sign MoU to protect cultural heritage

Bangladesh and Türkiye on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the protection of cultural property, marking a new milestone in the historical and cultural relations between the two countries.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony held at the Premium Lounge of Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka, said a statement from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan signed on behalf of Türkiye.

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam attended the ceremony as special guests. Senior officials from the cultural and foreign ministries of both countries, alongside a high-level Turkish delegation, were also present.

The MoU aims to strengthen long-term institutional cooperation between the two countries in preserving, protecting, restoring and promoting cultural heritage.

Under the agreement, Bangladesh and Türkiye will cooperate in preserving historical and cultural heritage, archival documents, library materials, museum management, digitisation and restoration initiatives.

Officials said the agreement builds on the Cultural Agreement signed between the two countries in 1981 and the Cooperation Programme signed in 2012 covering education, science, culture, arts, press and information, youth and sports.

Under the framework of the MoU, both countries will work jointly in line with the UNESCO 1970 Convention to prevent the illegal import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property.

The agreement also includes cooperation in archaeological research, application of modern technologies, disaster risk reduction, documentation and inventory mapping of cultural resources.

Officials expressed hope that the signing of the agreement would open a new chapter of cultural cooperation between Bangladesh and Türkiye and contribute to safeguarding shared heritage and civilisation.