An exhibition, a video performance and a musical concert were held to celebrate the ‘Boat Project’ at Shyambazar Kheyaghat, Puran Dhaka in the capital on Sunday. 

The exhibition was the result of a workshop titled ‘Learning from Puran Dhaka: The Urbanity of Occupations along the Buriganga Riverfront’, in which 50 students and faculty from Dhaka, Mumbai, Trivandrum, and Paris participated.

The exhibition was organised by the participating students of the workshop at different places at Puran Dhaka where the students were divided into 8 different groups to map life along the river, investigate endangered heritage and the micro economy.

An entertainment event by Joler Gaan was held along the ghat (docks). The performance was organised on a traditional boat to commemorate Puran Dhaka’s intangible heritage.

Video Performance by Ramona Poenaru and Gaël Chaillat of Compagnie Des Châteaux en l’air portrayed the customs and the daily life activities of the people along the ghat at Ruplal house through the projection.

The ‘Boat Project’ was curated by Ashfika Rahman.

‘River Heritage: Learning from Puran Dhaka’ is a long-running heritage initiative currently in its third chapter. It is led by Alliance Française, Goethe-Institut, British Council, the Spanish Embassy and the EU Delegation in Bangladesh, with support from the Embassy of the Netherlands.