Ahmed Zaman Advances Digital Heritage Preservation

Historic structures across South Asia are increasingly exposed to natural disasters, climate-related degradation, physical deterioration and the loss of reliable documentation. Against this backdrop, Bangladeshi technologist Ahmed Zaman Sanjib has presented a field-tested digital preservation model that can capture and digitally reconstruct archaeological heritage without physically altering the original structures.

The founder of Virtual Museum Bangladesh participated as a Resource Person from Bangladesh at a three-day international hybrid workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Titled “SAARC Promoting Digital Technologies for Preserving Cultural Heritage,” the workshop was organized by the SAARC Cultural Centre from September 16 to 18.

The workshop was inaugurated on September 16 at the Secretariat of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme in Colombo. The inauguration was held under the auspices of Hon. Eng. Eranga Weeraratne, Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Digital Economy of Sri Lanka, who attended as the chief guest. Dr. Nilan Cooray, Director General of the Central Cultural Fund, was the guest of honour.

Bangladesh High Commissioner D.M. Salahuddin Mahmud, Counsellor Md. Jannatul Habib and Defense Adviser Commodore Mohammad Moniruzzaman attended the event. Representatives from India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan were also present, along with diplomats, heritage specialists and government officials from Sri Lanka.

Among the participants were Roshni Thomson, First Secretary of the High Commission of India; Ismil Mamdhooh, representing the High Commission of Maldives; Vijay Kumar Raut, Ambassador (Acting) and Deputy Chief of Mission/Counsellor of Nepal; Sagar Bhandari, Second Secretary of Nepal; and Major General (Retd.) Dr Nayyar Naseer, HI (M), PhD, High Commissioner of Pakistan.

Other notable participants included Norbu Wangchuk, Director General of the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme; Varuni Muthukumarana, Director General (South Asia) of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism; Sasanga Nikapitiya, Director of the SAARC Division; T.M.J.W. Thennakoon, Additional Secretary (Administration), Tourism; and Niranjala D. Gunarathna and S.L. Dhammika K. Wijayasinghe, Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Representatives from Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Education, the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, National Museum, Department of Government Information and the National Committee of Intangible Heritage also participated.

From Physical Structures to Digital Twins

Ahmed Zaman’s presentation focused on how archaeological structures can be digitally captured, documented and preserved without physical intervention, allowing their architectural details, structural features and surrounding environments to remain accessible for future generations.

The first stage of his model involves drone and high-resolution digital camera photogrammetry. Images captured from multiple angles are processed to create detailed three-dimensional data of a heritage structure. This approach can document architectural elements and surface details with high precision.

The next stage involves digital restoration using modern three-dimensional software, including Blender. Damaged or missing elements can be digitally reconstructed and textured based on available historical evidence and captured visual data.

The final stage uses Unreal Engine to create a full-scale, 1:1 interactive virtual environment. Researchers and visitors can explore the digital representation of a heritage site remotely, while the virtual environment can also serve as a digital archive for future research, education and public engagement.

Applying the Model to Bangladesh’s Heritage

Under the Virtual Museum Bangladesh initiative, several important archaeological and historic sites have already been digitally preserved, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sixty Dome Mosque, Panam City and the Eleven Shiva Temples.

Work is currently underway to develop a 1:1 interactive virtual environment and digital twin of Somapura Mahavihara, commonly known as Paharpur, one of Bangladesh’s most significant archaeological sites.

Ahmed Zaman said the objective goes beyond simply producing photographs or three-dimensional models. The broader aim is to create comprehensive digital documentation of historic structures so that their architectural form and characteristics can remain accessible to future generations.

“Our main goal is to use modern technology to preserve Bangladesh’s rich history and archaeological heritage as faithfully as possible for future generations and to present the country’s heritage with dignity on the international stage,” he said.

Regional Knowledge Exchange

Reflecting on his experience at the Colombo workshop, Ahmed Zaman said being invited by the SAARC Cultural Centre as a Resource Person to represent Bangladesh was an honour. He said the organizers, regional delegates and participants showed strong interest in Virtual Museum Bangladesh’s field-tested approaches to reality capture and three-dimensional digital restoration.

According to him, the workshop also provided an important regional platform for exchanging knowledge, methodologies and cross-border perspectives. Discussions highlighted preservation challenges faced by South Asian countries, including climate-related degradation and limitations in technical resources.

Interactions with regional researchers, conservationists and three-dimensional technology specialists also opened discussions on standardized digital archiving, photogrammetry workflows and cross-border research collaboration.

Ahmed Zaman said the discussions further demonstrated that the immersive technology frameworks being developed in Bangladesh are aligned with broader international approaches to heritage preservation.

Next Steps: Paharpur and Professional Training

Looking ahead, Ahmed Zaman said Virtual Museum Bangladesh plans to expand its digital heritage repository. Its immediate priority is to finalize the 1:1 interactive virtual environment and digital twin of Somapura Mahavihara.

The initiative also plans to collaborate with regional and academic institutions to develop structured training modules on drone photogrammetry and three-dimensional restoration for heritage practitioners.

According to Ahmed Zaman, preserving heritage in the digital era requires not only creating accurate digital records but also developing the technical capacity of researchers, conservationists and professionals who work with cultural monuments.

The SAARC workshop in Colombo therefore brought a broader regional dimension to Bangladesh’s digital heritage initiative—demonstrating how vulnerable archaeological structures can be preserved not only as memories of the past, but also as accessible digital resources for future research, education and cultural engagement.

//DBTech/IH/SME/MIST//