Bangladesh & its cultural heritage: Bangladesh emerged as an independent sovereign nation in 1971. It is the home of a very old and ancient civilization. Relics of old civilization and culture are writ large all over the country, some of them with worldwide significances.

Geography and history have marked Bangladesh as a distinct region and the Bangla-speaking people as a distinct community. Its cultural life is also distinct and very rich. The century old cultural traditions of Bangladesh are reflected in innumerable tangible and intangible heritages - in archaeological sites, in sculptures, in stones and terracotta, in architectures, museums, archives, libraries, classical music, songs and dance, paintings, dramas, folk arts, festivals, games as well as ethnic cultural activities. Our cultural heritage has given us an eminent place among the community of nations.

Bangladesh has been the cradle of civilization and a centre of cultural diffusion since the dawn of history of humankind. In its over two thousand years of chequered history, Bangladesh became the meeting ground of various peoples in different states of civilization, the most primitive as well as the most advanced. Each phase of the history of this land has its distinct characteristics and every race who came and settled here, left their individual, racial, religious or cultural evidence in the form of secular and religious establishments along with their associated movable cultural properties. Unfortunately most of these have now perished with the passage of time due to destructive activities of man and nature. Still whatever relics, precariously survive today and lying scattered all over the country, eloquently testify to their lost splendor.

The birth of Bangladesh was largely a result of the people's struggle to preserve their own cultural identity. After independence it became obvious that measures should be taken to keep alive the past memories and preserve the country's cultural heritage through institution building. As a sovereign nation, it has also become imperative that the country should develop friendly and cultural relationships with partner countries/foreign nations. Hence, after independence a separate division was created to promote the cultural sector of the country. The Division changed it structure and restructured as Ministry and Division at different time.

Constitutional Obligation: The State shall adopt measures to conserve the cultural traditions and heritage of the people, and so to foster and improve the national language, literature and the arts that all sections of the people are afforded the opportunity to contribute towards and to participate in the enrichment of the national culture (Article 23).

The State shall adopt measures for the protection against disfigurement, damage or removal of all monuments, objects or places or special artistic or historic importance or interest (Article 24).