US provides grants for restoring historic Musa Khan Mosque at DU

The US Embassy in Dhaka has announced a grant assistance of $235,000 under the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) for restoring the historic Musa Khan Mosque in a significant step towards preserving Mughal architectural heritage in Bangladesh.

The announcement was made at a programme held at Dhaka University on Tuesday, underscoring a 25-year cultural partnership between the United States and Bangladesh. Over this period, the AFCP has supported 13 projects across the country, with total funding exceeding $1.0 million.

According to US Mission Spokesperson Poornima Rai, the project will be implemented in partnership with the Department of Archaeology. The initiative aims to restore the mosque's distinctive Islamic architectural features, establish a permanent digital archive, and provide training for young architects in heritage conservation.

Ambassador of the United States Brent T. Christensen formally announced the grants alongside Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and Director-General of the Department of Archaeology Sabina Alam.

Officials said the restoration project reflects a "shared commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries".

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com