About the Padma Bridge Museum

 

As part of the environmental management program of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, Bangladesh Bridge Authority (Bridge Division, Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges) has established the 'Padma Bridge Museum' at the Padma Bridge area. The Department of Zoology of the University of Dhaka has implemented the Padma Bridge Museum.
 
With the development of the communication system, various infrastructures were developed in the country. Padma Bridge and associated expressways are the biggest infrastructure in Bangladesh. For its implementation, the environment and ecosystem of the area adjacent to the Padma River and the expressway have been radically changed. The impact of these massive activities on the biodiversity of the region has been observed. Abundance of various species of animals and plants has decreased from the area adjacent to the Padma Bridge and the expressway. Some animals are forced to change areas. As a result of new afforestation, creation of sanctuaries, changes in landforms, many new species of animals and plants have been observed in the region. To preserve the history of this change in biodiversity, the government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has taken a groundbreaking decision to establish a zoological museum.
 
The Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project (PMBP) engaged the Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka (DU) to help establishing the proposed museum. The MoU between the PMBP and Department of Zoology, DU signed in November and museum development activities commenced in January 2016. A separate museum house for holding and display of specimens is being designed for construction near the bridge site.
 
While the proposed museum will be a visitors’ attraction for recreation and gaining knowledge about local biodiversity, the other purposes of the museum are to (a) document and preserve biodiversity assets of the Padma River and its adjacent areas as reference materials for future, (b) create awareness among people about biodiversity and its conservation, and (c) create opportunities for education and research on animal diversity.
 
As envisaged, the museum will be the largest and modern one of its kind in the country and of international standard. 

 

 

Technical Team for the Development of Museum

 

A dedicated technical team of 18 members worked for the development of the museum.

 

  1. 10 Teachers of the Department of Zoology, Dhaka University (provide part-time and intermittent inputs)
  2. Four Field Biologists
  3. One Taxidermist (part-time)
  4. One Assistant Taxidermist
  5. One Research Associate
  6. One Curator
     

 Major Museum Development Activities

1. COLLECTION, IDENTIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF ANIMAL SPECIMENS

Specimens representing major groups of animals ranging from invertebrates to mammals occurring in the Padma River and its adjacent areas have been collected, identified and validation checks made with an authentic website to ascertain its valid scientific names and taxonomic position.  

Padma Bridge Museum has collected more than 1700 specimens of about 900 species of animals from the Padma river and its influence area. Apart from the Padma River and its impact areas, important and rare species of animals have been collected from other parts of the country. A total of 2158 specimens of about 1423 species of animals are preserved in this museum. 


 

2. COLLECTION OF SPECIMENS OF NATURAL HERITAGES

In addition to the collection of animal specimens, some specimens of local natural and social heritages, including abandoned nests, eggs, body-parts of various animals, replicas of traditional boats of the region and various fishing gears have been collected. So far, about 2400 specimens have been collected in the Padma Bridge Museum.

Along with animal specimens, the Padma Bridge Museum has a model of the Padma Bridge, a model of a floating crane, various memorabilia and photographs related to the construction of the bridge.


 

3. PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION OF COLLECTED SPECIMENS

All collected specimens have been processed and preserved following standard methods and techniques, including stuffing, wet preservation, pinning, printing, models to ensure long-term shelf life and storage. Care and maintenance methods also established for long time storage and display.  


 

4. DISPLAY OF THE SPECIMENS FOR VISITORS

Most of the species/specimens have been exhibited following established procedures, the rest have been preserved as reference materials for inspection and study by professionals, researchers and for special purpose use. Many of the species have been displayed in their simulated artificial environment.  


 

5. DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE SYSTEMS (FOR CATALOGUING AND SPECIES PROFILING)

A software-based database system has been developed for easy data recording and its subsequent retrieval and systematic display and storage of all collected specimens. All specimens will be cataloged in this database system. Similarly, species profiles of all collected species have been developed and entered also in the database for subsequent retrieval and uses.  


 

6. LOCAL AWARENESS ENHANCEMENT

A series of awareness programs were organized at local schools and Union Parishad Offices to enhance local awareness on biodiversity and its conservation.  


 

7. DIGITIZATION OF DOCUMENTS

A comprehensive documentation system has been designed to record all information related to collection, processing, preservation, storage and display of each of the collected objects. All information (e.g. information field collection, photographs, museum registration, taxonomy study, processing and preservation) have been preserved in digitized format with provision for subsequent retrieval and inspection.