UNESCO Dhaka

UNESCO Dhaka organised a five-day workshop on "Value-based Management of Cultural Heritage of Bangladesh" at BRAC INN from 24-28 May 2009. Richard Englehardt, an internationally acclaimed scholar on heritage management and former UNESCO Regional Advisor for Culture in the Asia Pacific Region conducted the workshop that was attended by participants from the Jahangirnagar University and the Department of Archaeology. The workshop was the first in what UNESCO hopes to be a series of training activities aimed at building the capacity of the manager and other officials who are responsible for the protection and management of cultural heritage sites of the country.

The New Age, an English daily of Bangladesh, published an interview with Richard Englehardt on 5th June 2009.

The Daily Star bagged both the awards in the print media category while Channel i and Bangla Vision won one each for television reporting, says a UNESCO press release issued on 3 May 2009.

UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Awards 2009 was given for the best investigative report carried or telecast in any Bangladeshi print and electronic media in 2008. There were two awards for the print and two for the electronic media with one award reserved for female reporters for both print and electronic media.

Only two weeks left for submitting nominations to the 2009 edition of the International Literacy Prizes. In compliance with the United Nations Literacy Decade’s biannual calendar for 2009-2010, the special theme is “Literacy and Empowerment”. Member States and International Non-Governmental Organizations maintaining formal consultative relations with the Organization are invited to solicit and submit applications.

This year, the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes consist of four awards, with a total value of US$80,000.

• The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize (2 awards)
• The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy (2 awards)

Applicants’ files should reach the UNESCO Secretariat no later than 30 June 2009. Applicants are highly encouraged to send their files in electronic format.

Bangladesh is moving one step ahead in making digital Bangladesh – master plan for ICT in education is going to be prepared soon. The government, stakeholders and development partners began a journey of formulating the ICT in Education Master Plan of Bangladesh through the first step- the Capacity Building Workshop on Using the ICT in Education Toolkit for Policymakers, Planners and Practitioners, started on 27th and will finish on 30 April 2009.

One of the agenda of this government is to make the country ‘digital’ through ICT capable and ICT enhanced education and making the people fit for the 21st century challenges. After coming to power in January this year, this government has already taken initiative to reformulate the education policy and now going to explore how ICTs can best be integrated and enhance quality of education.

Mr. Nurul Islam Nahid, Hon’ble Minister for Education, while speaking as Chief Guest for the inaugural session of the workshop, reiterated his government’s commitment to ensure quality education and making Bangladesh a digital nation. He hoped that this workshop will enable the policymakers, planners and practitioners to recommend policy changes to integrate ICT in education and prepare ICT in master plan. This government has already approved ICT policy 2008 and ICT laws.

Among others Mr. Malama Meleisea, Director and Representative, UNESCO, Mr. Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor, Access to Information Programme of Prime Minister’s Office spoke the occasion. The speakers at the inaugural session underscored the need for designing ICTs in education keeping in the mind the needs of underprivileged and under-reached people.