International Museum Day '07
Museums: Universal Heritage
Mohammed Sirajul islam

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/ma_ruf/ancient%20bengal/MuseumsUniversalHeritage.jpg)

Museums are non-profit institu-tions in the service of society and its development and are open to public, through acquiring, conserving and studying objects that explains evolution of a civilisation. Museums are the mirror of a nation, bridging the past with the present.

A museum is an institution for the preservation of objects which illustrate the phenomena of nature and the works of men, and the utilisation of these for the increase of knowledge. Museums signify mankind's achievements through exhibitions.

In 1977, at the International Council of Museum's (ICOM) 12th general assembly at Moscow, a recommendation was made for observing an International Museum Day, to be held on May 18 each year. The ICOM Secretariat recommended that member countries organise local events around or on the day.

Since then the day has taken on such importance that in some countries, the celebration has been extended to a week or even a month. The ICOM head office decides the theme every year. The theme of this year's International Museum Day is "Museums and Universal Heritage".

In every museum each object contains independent historic background and cultural heritage. It also creates a need for information. Museums directly and indirectly enlighten us on a range of subjects -- history, society, anthropology, ethnology, politics, religion, customs, folklore and more.

Museums can be run by the government or by different organisations, trustees or even by families. In Bangladesh there are different kinds of museums including The National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Fish Museum, Adibashi Museum and more. The working museums nationwide have formed a committee called 'Bangladesh Museum Council'.

Museums arrange multiple festivals and educational programmes. The museum staff, historians, archaeologists and museum enthusiasts are all set to observe the International Museum Day with seminars, discussions, rallies and publishing relevant articles and cultural programmes.

The author is the Secretary of Bangladesh National Committee of ICOM and is also the Registration Officer of Bangladesh National Museum