A seminar titled “Conservation of Art: Necessity, Challenges, Prospects in Bangladesh” was held at the Osman Jamal Auditorium of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka on Tuesday (August 25, 2026).
The seminar was organised by the Department of Oriental Art of the Faculty of Fine Arts. Professor Dr Abdus Salam, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka, attended the event as the chief guest.
Professor Gopal Chandra Tribedi, Chairman of the Department of Oriental Art, chaired the seminar. Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Professor Dr Md Azharul Islam Sheikh and Honorary Professor of the department Dr Abdus Sattar attended as special guests. Part-time teacher of the department Gazi Md Zahirul Islam presented the keynote paper.
In his speech, Professor Abdus Salam said growing economic development in the country is accompanied by increasing public interest in art and culture. Therefore, he stressed the need to recognise the importance of preserving artworks.
He warned that without proper conservation, the country's invaluable artistic heritage could gradually disappear. He urged students to acquire knowledge of art conservation alongside their artistic practice.
Professor Salam said art and science are closely connected, making knowledge of long-term conservation methods essential for materials such as ceramics, oil paint, wood, paper, stone and clay.
He also noted that artworks can be seriously damaged not only by outdoor air pollution but also by chemical reactions occurring in indoor air. Institutional knowledge about the chemicals used in artworks, he said, would help ensure sustainable protection of both the environment and artistic works.
The keynote presenter, Gazi Md Zahirul Islam, earned a master's degree in art conservation from the National Museum Institute in New Delhi, India, in 2007. He later completed an internship at the Limburg Conservation Institute in the Netherlands.
