Preserving the nation�s heritage

Though officially it is the department of archeology that has been entrusted with the responsibility of preserving archeological sites, it falls also upon every citizen of this country to do their share

According to a report published in this newspaper on Wednesday a team of archaeologists has recently excavated an ancient brick-built fort-like structure at Dharma Pal Garh site in Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district. Experts believe that the fort was most probably built by King Dharmapala, who was the son of King Harshapala of the kingdom of Kamrup. This excavation of an important archaeological site is good news indeed. Bangladesh is a place of many such sites of which the country can be rightfully proud of.
The department of archaeology deserves plaudits for their effort in this regard. Last year remains of an estimated 1,000-year-old temple and city, linked with the famous Buddhist scholar Atish Dipankar, was found in Munshiganj district. The department also played a pivotal role only a few years back in excavating the Wari-Bateshwar in Narsingdi, the site of an ancient fort city dating back to 450 BC.
But besides these success stories, there have been failures on part of the department as well. It is indeed a matter of great regret that the country could not complete a nationwide archaeological survey even more than four decades into the country’s independence, not to speak of other tasks such as preservation, maintenance and the detailed study of the sites and places in their historical perspective. The archaeology department initiated district-wise surveys in 1981 but it could survey only 38 districts so far. Twenty-six districts, including historically important Dhaka, Chitta­gong and Sylhet, are yet to be surveyed. The government department concer­ned showed fund cons­traints and the absence of skilled manpower as reasons for this dismal state of the archaeological survey. Hence, it is imperative for the government to immediately strengthen and revitalise the department and allocate the required funds to complete the task of the identification and the classification of archaeologically important buildings, sites and places, paving the way for further studies. It would, otherwise, be irreparably late in travelling back into the country’s distant past.
Nations preserve their heritage. It is who they are, who their next generation will be. They protect and nurture their roots. Though officially it is the Department of Archeology that has been entrusted with the responsibility of preserving these sites, it falls also upon every citizen of this country to do their share in ensuring that these sites are not damaged or polluted in any manner.

Preserving the nation�s heritage

Though officially it is the department of archeology that has been entrusted with the responsibility of preserving archeological sites, it falls also upon every citizen of this country to do their share

According to a report published in this newspaper on Wednesday a team of archaeologists has recently excavated an ancient brick-built fort-like structure at Dharma Pal Garh site in Jaldhaka upazila of Nilphamari district. Experts believe that the fort was most probably built by King Dharmapala, who was the son of King Harshapala of the kingdom of Kamrup. This excavation of an important archaeological site is good news indeed. Bangladesh is a place of many such sites of which the country can be rightfully proud of. The department of archaeology deserves plaudits for their effort in this regard. Last year remains of an estimated 1,000-year-old temple and city, linked with the famous Buddhist scholar Atish Dipankar, was found in Munshiganj district. The department also played a pivotal role only a few years back in excavating the Wari-Bateshwar in Narsingdi, the site of an ancient fort city dating back to 450 BC. But besides these success stories, there have been failures on part of the department as well. It is indeed a matter of great regret that the country could not complete a nationwide archaeological survey even more than four decades into the countrys independence, not to speak of other tasks such as preservation, maintenance and the detailed study of the sites and places in their historical perspective. The archaeology department initiated district-wise surveys in 1981 but it could survey only 38 districts so far. Twenty-six districts, including historically important Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, are yet to be surveyed. The government department concerned showed fund constraints and the absence of skilled manpower as reasons for this dismal state of the archaeological survey. Hence, it is imperative for the government to immediately strengthen and revitalise the department and allocate the required funds to complete the task of the identification and the classification of archaeologically important buildings, sites and places, paving the way for further studies. It would, otherwise, be irreparably late in travelling back into the countrys distant past. Nations preserve their heritage. It is who they are, who their next generation will be. They protect and nurture their roots. Though officially it is the Department of Archeology that has been entrusted with the responsibility of preserving these sites, it falls also upon every citizen of this country to do their share in ensuring that these sites are not damaged or polluted in any manner.