Dhaka: Alliance Française de Dhaka, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh and Urban Study Group arrange Illuminated Puran Dhaka – Heritage in Limelight, highlighting the endangered cultural heritage of Puran Dhaka through video and light installations by French artist Christophe Bruyas and German artist Philipp Geist.

The opening ceremony of the exceptional event took place on Friday, 16 October, 2015 at 6:30pm at the Devi Nibash (next to Northbrook Hall) in Old Dhaka.

Emeritus Professor of University of Dhaka Anisuzzaman, deputy head of mission of the German Embassy in Bangladesh Dr Ferdinand von Weyhe, deputy head of mission of the French Embassy in Bangladesh Jean-Pierre PONCET along with many others were present during the inauguration.

The event is organised in cooperation with Dhaka South City Corporation and with the support of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

In addition to the vespertine illumination, a cultural programme, including dance and music presentations also took place. An exhibition showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Puran Dhaka is in display at Devi Nibas and will continue till today (17 October 2015).

The project aims at raising awareness on the cultural value of the heritage buildings for the country. Ideally, it is a first step towards initiating yearly Heritage Open Days in Bangladesh in the future.

The venue of the event, Devi Nibash, is a picturesque riverfront palace right next to Sadarghat Terminal, built in the 19th century by a businessman and Zamindar. The two-storey building – a remnant of the once glorious waterfront of Dhaka — was built in the Neo Classical style. Unlike neighboring Ahsan Manzil (‘Pink Palace’), the deserted complex in the midst of a huge palm tree garden is hardly known to the public.

Christophe Bruyas and Philipp Geist, have worked in many countries around the world; it is however their first visit to Bangladesh. Christophe Bruyas is a French light designer and theatre director, who, among others, participated in the light festival Festival Lumière in Lyon (France). Berlin based artist Philipp Geist works internationally as an artist with the mediums of video/light installation as well as photography and painting.

The event is partly funded by the Franco-German Fund for projects in third party countries. Set up in 2003 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of the Elysée, the fund is a potent symbol of the friendship between France and Germany. It was set up as witness to cultural cooperation between France and Germany in third party countries by means of concrete cooperation projects in the fields of the visual arts, theatre, cinema, broadcasting, sports, intellectual debate, literature and promoting the learning of French and German.