Because "Museums" is not a geographic province, a traditional regional history does not apply. The history of the museum sector in Bangladesh, however, dates back over a century. Early organized efforts to preserve the region's heritage began during the British colonial period. The Varendra Research Museum, established in Rajshahi in 1910, holds the distinction of being the oldest museum in the country, initially focusing on the rich archaeological finds of the ancient Varendra region.
In 1913, the Dhaka Museum was founded, steadily growing in its collections and scope over the decades. Following Bangladesh's independence in 1971, there was a renewed push to preserve the newly sovereign nation's history and cultural identity. In 1983, the Dhaka Museum was elevated, expanded, and re-incorporated as the Bangladesh National Museum. Modern historical milestones in this sector include the establishment of the Liberation War Museum in 1996—a crowdsourced and community-funded initiative that meticulously documents the country's struggle for independence, serving as a profoundly important historical archive for future generations.