Panchagarh
Heritage fair kicks off
Call to preserve archaeological relics
UNB
A two-day heritage fair kicked off on Saturday at the districts archaeologically important site at Bhitargarh, a fortified city as old as the 7th century spreading across a 25-square kilometre area, being exposed through an ongoing excavation project, reports UNB. The Archaeology Department and the Bhitargarh Promotional Society (BPS) have jointly organised the fair to create awareness among locals about the conservation of the unique archeological site as well as to mark out its significance as a major heritage site outside world. Besides, the Bhitargarh Day was observed for the first time on Saturday. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the Bhitargarh Day while BPS president Sohel Ahmed Chowdhury presided over the programme.
Vice chancellor of ULAB Prof Imran Rahman, BPS member Rana Haider, team leader of Bhitargarh excavation Shahnaj Husne Jahan were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the inaugural function, Asaduzzaman Noor said, Our archaeological relics have to be preserved to learn about our past history and heritage.
Urging all to refrain from building any structure in the excavation area as well as from any activity that can damage the relics at the site, the minister said on completion of the excavation, Bhitargarh will be turned into a tourism hub that will help lift the socio-economic condition of the locality.
The present government has not only taken steps for sectors like the transport, education, health and other developments, but also for the protection of archaeological sites.
After the inauguration programme at noon, the fair went abuzz with people enjoying various fanfare and amusements like marry-go-round, snake charming, stick fight, magic show and folk songs.
Talking to UNB about their initiative, BPS member Raana Haider said they are celebrating the Bhitargarh Day with an aim to promote cultural and eco-tourism at Bhitargarh, about 16 km off the district town.
Bhitargarh is not only a major heritage site of Bangladesh, but also among the South Asian countries, she noted.
The excavation team, led by archaeologist Shahnaj Husne Jahan, over the last five years since the inception of the systematic archaeological investigation has been struggling to prevent the destruction of the historically important antiquity due to human intervention in various forms.
The excavation has largely been carried out by Shahnajs students at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) as well as some locals who were given some training and motivation.
The Archaeology Department has also been monitoring the excavation.
Talking to UNB, Shehnaj said they have prepared a preliminary mapping of the site, spreading across a 25-square kilometre area.
It is likely that Bhitargarh is the largest fortified settlement ever found in the country, or even in South Asia, she said, adding that the structures at the settlement were possibly built between the 6th and 7th centuries.
However, she expressed her concern that much of the relics have already been destroyed, particularly the bricks, despite a High Court rule against any damage of the site.
Beginning the excavation in 2008, the ULAB team has already completed the identification and excavation of the antiquities while the paleo-environmental and geo-archaeological studies are being carried out to be more precise on the historical bearings of Bhitargarh.
