Tangail Saree weaving recognised as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage

Bangladesh’s centuries-old Tangail Saree weaving tradition has been officially inscribed on UNESCO’s representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The unanimous decision was made on Tuesday at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003 Convention), currently being held in New Delhi, India. 

This marks Bangladesh’s sixth standalone entry on the prestigious list.

Ambassador Khandker M. Talha, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UNESCO and President of the 42nd UNESCO General Conference, who led the Bangladesh delegation, called the recognition “an extraordinary honour.”  

“This global acknowledgment of an art form practised by Tangail weavers for over two centuries is a tribute to every weaver and every woman in Bangladesh,” he said, dedicating the achievement to the country’s weaving communities and women.

The nomination dossier was submitted by the Bangladesh Embassy in Paris in April 2025. Prepared entirely in-house despite the technical complexity of the process, the file successfully passed rigorous evaluation and was recommended for inscription by the independent Evaluation Body before receiving final approval from the Committee.

The inscription comes against the backdrop of a recent controversy: in 2023–2024, India had registered “Tangail Saree of Bengal” as its Geographical Indication (GI) product, triggering strong objections in Bangladesh. 

Experts and officials note that Tuesday’s UNESCO decision, based on thorough historical and ethnographic evidence presented by Bangladesh, effectively settles earlier disputes over the origin and ownership of the tradition.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, M. Riaz Hamidullah, emphasised the incontestable nature of the UNESCO inscription under an international convention. 

“The saree is cherished by women on both sides of the border. This recognition gives every saree-loving woman—whether in Bangladesh or India—an additional reason to take pride in this beautiful garment,” he added.

Bangladesh secured a four-year seat on the 24-member Intergovernmental Committee in 2022, strengthening its efforts to safeguard living heritage. 

The country’s previous inscriptions include Baul Songs (2008), Jamdani Weaving (2013), Mangal Shobhajatra (2016), Shitalpati Weaving (2017), and Rickshaws and Rickshaw Painting of Dhaka (2023).

The ongoing 20th Committee session, inaugurated on 7 December by Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and attended by UNESCO’s newly appointed Director-General Khaled El Enany of Egypt, will continue until 13 December 2025.