The government has taken an initiative to modernise and digitise the National Archives and the National Library under a new project aimed at informing the next generation about the nation’s true history and preserving cultural heritage.
The Department of Archives and Libraries under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs will implement the project titled “Digitisation, Online Service Expansion and Modernisation of the National Archives and the National Library.”
The project with an estimated cost of Tk 234.70 crore will be entirely funded by the government which is scheduled to run from July, 2025 to June, 2029.
According to the project documents, nearly nine crore archival and library materials will be digitised using modern technologies such as barcoding, RFID and other digital methods to ensure systematic preservation.
The project also aims to strengthen the digital security of national data and enhance online access to archival and library resources.
It will also include capacity-building programmes for officers and staff of the Department of Archives and Libraries as well as relevant government offices to improve their record management skills.
Various types of books, documents, newspapers and magazines are constantly being accumulated and their numbers are increasing every day, according to the document.
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Besides, with the rise in literacy rates, people’s creativity is also being increasingly expressed through various publications, it said.
Considerable space is required to manually store all these collections and if the growth continues at this pace, it will eventually become impossible to accommodate them.
The stored physical records may also deteriorate over time and become unusable, meaning that future generations could be deprived of access to authentic historical materials.
Accordingly, the restructured Development Project Proposal/Proforma (DPP)of the project has been submitted to the Bangladesh Planning Commission for approval.
The National Archives and the National Library are both based in Dhaka and thus the project area has been limited to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar under Dhaka North City Corporation.
A feasibility study conducted by the Bangladesh Computer Council in 2023 and another by BUET in 2021, both endorsed the project as timely and practical.
Major components of the project include Tk 155 crore for data preservation, Tk 14.95 crore for fittings and fixtures, Tk 32.14 crore for fire safety equipment, Tk 6.50 crore for cameras and accessories, and Tk 4.99 crore for software procurement.
The archives and libraries are among the most important means of expressing people’s creativity, alongside the growing literacy rate in the country.
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In this context, the project will play a crucial role in preserving and promoting Bangladesh’s historical and cultural heritage for research and educational purposes.
The Planning Commission, in its observations, said the project would transform the National Archives and the National Library into fully digital repositories, enhancing the preservation, security and accessibility of Bangladesh’s invaluable historical and cultural records.