DHAKA: Jamdani has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The decision was made at the eighth meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage that began on 2 December in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan.

The Committee examined 31 proposals received from various countries for inscription on the UNESCO’s Representative List of intangible cultural heritage of humanity. It approved 23 proposals and rejected 8 proposals. Bangladesh’s nomination titled ‘Traditional art of Jamdani weaving’ was approved by the Committee unanimously.

Intangible Cultural Heritage includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festivals, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.

Earlier, Baul song was inscribed on the representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2008.  

A delegation composed of Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO Shahidul Islam, Bangla Academy’s Director General Professor Shamsuzzaman Khan, Bangla Academy’s Director Shahida Khatun and Jamdani expert Dr Firoz Mahmud is representing Bangladesh to the conference. The conference will continue till 7 December.

BDST: 2105 HRS, DEC 04, 2013