Bogra district administration and Mahasthan Mazar Unnayan Committee yesterday started construction for a 'development work', removing ancient structures at Mahastangrah Archaeological Site.
“A letter has been sent to the Mahasthan Mazar Unnayan Committee secretary to stop all kinds of construction work there. According to the Antiquity Act of 1968, authorities need to have approval from the Department of Archaeology for any type of construction at an archaeological site,” said Naheed Sultana, custodian of Mahasthangarh Archaeological Museum.
The letter mentioned that Mahasthangarh was declared an archaeological site in 1920 during the British rule.
“A large number of Gupta period bricks and stones have been found from a surface level during illegal construction works on Thursday morning,” said Naheed Sultana.
Secretary of Mahasthan Mazar Unnayan Committee, Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Lutfar Rahman admitted that a construction project has started without consent of the Department of Archaeology.
He also admitted that the committee earlier fell down some trees without any approval of the forest department.
The letter from the custodian of Mahasthangarh Archaeological Museum has been forwarded to the deputy commissioner (DC) of Bogra for further instruction, said the UNO.
During Bangladesh-France Joint excavation a few years ago, a huge number of archaeological objects including an earthen stove of 400 BC were found at the site.
Regional Director of the Department of Archaeology in Rajshahi Division Md Badrul Alam told over cell phone yesterday that another letter has been sent to the Bogra DC, requesting them to stop the construction and save the ancient site.
Source: The Daily Star [December 02, 2010]