United News of Bangladesh

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. No record in National Archives can be destroyed; bill passed 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. Preserve true history of Liberation War: President  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.

The Bangladesh National Archive Bill, 2021 was passed in Parliament on Thursday with a strong provision that no record can be destroyed. State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid moved the Bill, brought to replace the National Archive Ordinance, 1983 in line with a High Court order, was passed by voice vote. The provision of destroying any record has been dropped from the law. So, no record stored in the National Archives can be destroyed. Read:Tougher maritime law in the offing; bill placed in JS The soft copies of classified documents will have to be stored in Kaliakoir Data Centre after a certain period of time. There will be a 17-member advisory council for three years for the National Archives and its Director General (DG) will be appointed by the government. As per the proposed law, the National Archives will provide records to any individual upon application and provide applicable fees. Regarding sending any file, which is above 75 years’ old and has historical, cultural and literature value, to abroad, it will require permission from the Director General. If the DG thinks that this will go against the country then the DG can deny the permission. Read: JS passes Kurigram Agricultural University Bill The aggrieved person can apply to the government within 14 days of informing him officially and the decision of the government is final. If anyone tempers or destroys or erases or hacks any file of the Archive that person will be imprisoned for three years or fined Tk 20,000. If anyone takes any file from the Archive illegally, smuggles it abroad or takes it outside the Archive building with an ill intention, that person will be imprisoned for five years or fined Tk one lakh.

The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft of “Bangladesh Patent Bill, 2021”, aiming to make the century-old patent law a more time-befitting one.