During the ensuing online group exercise, the participants learned to develop intangible cultural heritage safeguarding plans in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Facilitators and trainees alike appreciated the training approach, saying that it made the workshop highly interesting, interactive and productive.

Sk. Saifur Rahman, one of the trainees, shares with classmates his video about making of Shokher Hari (Traditional painted pottery of Bangladesh) in a local community.

Between 2018 and 2020, CRIHAP organized a Capacity-building Workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding Plan Development, a Capacity-building Workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventorying, and a Capacity-building Workshop on Intangible Cultural Heritage Nomination for Bangladesh, winning accolades from all parties involved for enhancing the country’s ICH safeguarding capability.

Sydur Rahman Lipon, one of the trainees, shares with classmates his video about Dhamail, a form of folk music and dance practiced on the occasions of certain religious rites, religious festivals and birth and marriage ceremonies.

The workshop turned out to be a well-designed follow-up as most participants attended the three previous workshops. The participants spoke highly of this year’s workshop in terms of the lecture content, training approach, and class arrangement. The trainees all agreed that the workshop serves as a platform for Bangladesh’s ICH stakeholders to communicate closely and they believe the platform will continue to function, helping move the country’s ICH safeguarding forward.

Gabriel Tripura, one of the trainees, records his observations about cloth-weaving during his field trip to a local community.

To date, CRIHAP has organized a total of 56 ICH capacity-building workshops, covering 41 countries and regions, with 1,921 direct beneficiaries from the Asia-Pacific region.