Lokayan Life Diversity Museum, Bangladesh

Northern Bangladesh's long-settled communities — farmers, potters, smiths, fishermen, lyricists and ethnic groups — have shaped a heritage often overlooked by conventional archiving that favors ruling dynasties over working people's lives. The Lokayan Life Diversity Museum, established by the Eco Social Development Organization (ESDO) in Akcha village near Thakurgoan, was built to reclaim that everyday heritage.

Galleries: the River Gallery (opened 2016; preserves water from Bangladesh's rivers, river-occupation artifacts, boats, boat festivals, bhatiali song, and information on chars, floods, fisheries and birds); a gallery on ethnic minorities living in the plains (livelihood, culture, dress, food, occupations, festivals); the Grassroots Folk Gallery (opened 2006; agricultural tools, herbal medicine, instruments, coins, jewellery, religious objects, household items, pottery, crafts); and the Liberation War Gallery (organized by era — Old Age, Middle Age, 1757-1947, 1947-1971, and the Nine Months of Independence — with films, an audiovisual library, an open stage and auditorium).