Published: 10:59 PM, 09 September 2026 Last Update: 11:49 PM, 09 September 2026
Sundarbans’ cultural resilience highlighted as EUNIC project ends at Goethe-Institut
The cultural connections, shared heritage and resilience of communities living across the Sundarbans of Bangladesh and Kolkata were highlighted at the closing event of an EUNIC-supported project held at the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh on Monday night.
The EUNIC Cluster Bangladesh and EU Delegation to Bangladesh, in collaboration with HERITEiNCE DoA-BUET, Riverine People and Team Platform, organised the event to mark the conclusion of the project titled 'Sundarbans Across Borders: The Spirit of Cultural Resilience', UNB reports.
The event brought together project partners, artists, researchers, cultural practitioners and guests to reflect on the project’s activities and explore the cultural and ecological connections shared by communities across the Sundarbans.
The programme began with a welcome note by Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Director Frank Werner, followed by an introduction to the project by Hasib Zuberi Shihan of Team Platform.
Two documentary films produced by EUNIC Clusters Bangladesh and Kolkata were screened during the event, offering perspectives on the people, landscapes, cultural practices and ecological realities of the world’s largest mangrove forest.
A Q&A session followed the screenings, with Mohammad Tahajibul Hossain of HERITEiNCE and Hasib Zuberi Shihan responding to questions from the audience.
The discussion focused on life and livelihoods in the Sundarbans, its rich biodiversity and the complex relationship between local communities and the fragile ecosystem, highlighting both the challenges faced by residents and their resilience.
As part of the closing programme, "The Hive and the Hymn", an interdisciplinary exhibition exploring the tangible and intangible cultural practices of the Moual, the honey-collecting communities living along the fringes of the Sundarbans, was also presented.
The exhibition features four bodies of Patachitra scroll work, including a traditional Gazir Pat, a contemporary depiction of the honey-collection cycle, a vertical retelling of the Bonobibi myth and a co-created scroll painted by community women and children.
