Museums of Bangladesh

5.17. Museums:

5.17. 1. National Museums

National Museums Established as Dhaka Museum in 1913. It has been renamed as the National Museum and was shifted to its new building at shahbag in 1983. It is a four storied building and has forty galleries under four departments, namely (1) Natural History, (2) History and Classical Art, (3) Ethnography and Decorative Art and (4) Contemporary art and world civilization. The museum contains a large number of interesting collection including sculptures and paintings of the Buddhist and Muslim periods. It also has a rich collection of old coins, metal images, books on art, ivory and silver filigree works, textiles including the world famous muslim fabric embroidered quilt (Nakshi Kantha), arms and ammunitions of the bygone warriors, varieties of fine handicrafts and models of the village and town life, contemporary paintings and sculptures. Above all, the valuable articles of the heroic liberation war of Bangladesh are also there.

5.17. 2. Folk Art Museum

The Folk Art Museum was established in 1975 to fulfill the dream of the celebrated painter Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin. The Museum has a very rich collection of folk objects of different materials and forms of aesthetic and utilitarian values. These undoubtedly reflect the sentiments, impulse, temperament, moods, idiosyncracy skill and expertise of the artists and artisans. It is a national traditional art heritage of Bangladesh, exhibiting objects of exceptional design and skill. Open: Saturday - Wednesday 9.00 am. 5.00 pm. closed Thursday, Friday & Govt, Holidays.

5.17. 3. Ethnological Museum

The ethnological museum at Chittagong stands as a milestone in our national progress. It is a place where ample facilities have been provided to carry out enthnologiczal research. This museum is recognised as one of the best specialised museum is recognised as one of the best specialised museums in south east asia. It houses objects of 12 different tribes of Bangladesh and also of many tribes of Australia, India and Pakistan.

5.17. 4. Archaeological Museums

Archaeological Museums Every place of archaeological importance houses a small archaeological museum i.e. at Lalbagh Fort, Mahasthangarh, Paharpur, and Mainamati.

5.17. 5. Varendra Museum

Varendra Museum Situated at Rajshahi. This museum has a rich collection of objects of Mohenjodaro and also of 16th to 19th century A.D. This is devoted to the study of ancient history an culture. Its rich collections contain interesting objects of past Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim heritage. It is located at the heart of Rajshahi town and maintained by Rajshahi University authority. The year of its formal establishment is 1910.

5.17. 6. Tribal Museum

Tribal Museum The only Tribal Cultural Museum in the Hill Tracts region was established at Rangamati town in 1978 and run by the Tribal Cultural Institute. It preserves valuable objects and articles of different tribes depicting their socioeconomic, cultural and historical tradition. These include typical tribal dresses, ornaments, arms and ammunitions, coins, statues made of wood, bronze and other metals, musical instruments, ivory products, handicrafts, paintings on tribal life etc.