DHAKA, Bangladesh,Mar 19 (BSS) - A month long traditional boat
exhibition will begin on March 23 in the city's Nolinikanto
Bhattashali exhibition hall of the National Museum with a call to
create awareness against the gradual extinction of century- old boat glory.

Friendship, a value-based organization working for char people, is organizing the boat exhibition styled 'Traditional Boats of Bangladesh' for the third time in the county, under its cultural preservation programme.

Disclosing this at a press conference at Jatiya Press Club here, executive director of Friendship Runa Khan said the main purpose of the exhibition is to empower the char people with skill development training for better livelihood.

Friendship adviser Yves Maree, deputy managing director of AB Bank, vice president Javed Tariq, director (operations) Friendship Ehsanul Huq and manager of Tara Tari Shipyard Tajul Majumdar were present, among others, at the conference.

Runa Khan said the country have no statistics of sufferings of the most disadvantaged char people who gave the people traditional boats the biggest heritage in the world for which Bangladeshi people are proud of.

In return, she said, Bangladesh gave nothing to the char
people as the glory of their traditional boats are now on the
verge of decay one by one.

Yves Maree eulogized highly rich diversity of the country
saying fantastic traditional boats will increase Bangladesh's
image both at home and abroad.

Referring to the earlier traditional Bangladeshi boat
exhibition in Paris, he said many foreigners were deeply
impressed by the ancient fascinating heritage.

"It is indeed unfortunate that those heritage is now
disappearing," said Maree.

It is the moral responsibility of all to preserve the
heritage, he said suggesting revival of the traditional boats
made by architects and holding frequent exhibitions.

Aneeqa R Ahmed, one of the organizers of the exhibition, sponsored
by AB Bank, told BSS the main objective of the exhibition is to
revive the past glory of traditional boats keeping in view that the
traditional boats are fast disappearing.

She said Friendship has embarked on a plan to set up a small
scale 'Living Museum' where all kinds of traditional boats would
be preserved.