Bangladesh has earned global acclaim as Unesco inscribed the country’s traditional Tangail sari weaving craft on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a recognition that Dhaka hailed as a profound honour for the nation’s centuries-old artisanal tradition.
The decision was adopted unanimously at the ongoing 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Unesco 2003 Convention in New Delhi, said a press release here on Tuesday.
This marks Bangladesh’s sixth solo inscription under the Convention and the second listing since being elected a member of the Committee for the first time.
Reacting to the announcement, Ambassador Khondker M Talha, head of the Bangladesh delegation and president of the Unesco General Conference, said the recognition celebrates more than 200 years of extraordinary craftsmanship by Tangail’s weavers.
“This recognition is an extraordinary honor for Bangladesh. It is a global acknowledgement of the unparalleled craftsmanship of the Tangail weavers,” he said.
The envoy noted that the saree has long been an everyday attire for Bangladeshi women and a symbol of cultural identity.
He dedicated the achievement to all weavers and women of Bangladesh.
The ambassador said the inscription adds new momentum to Bangladesh’s efforts to safeguard its intangible cultural heritage.
He stressed that the country has many more heritage elements worthy of Unesco listing, and enhanced documentation and capacity building will pave the way for future recognitions.
The session was inaugurated on December 7 by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while Unesco’s newly appointed Director-General Khaled El Enany was also present.
