Archaeological experts yesterday urged the government to take necessary actions to save the country’s archaeological sites with proper and responsible measures, alleging that the initiatives that are being taken now were destroying the history of the sites in most cases.
They also expressed the need of appointing adequate manpower with knowledge in the sector in order to get the best output in preserving history of the sites. The views were exchanged at a roundtable discussion organised by Poribesh Banchao Andolon (Poba) in its office.
“In most cases, the conservation works in the country’s archaeological sites are not being carried out by professionals with knowledge in the sector, resulting in the destruction of historical places,” said Prof AKM Shah Nawaz of Jahangirnagar University’s archaeology department.
Citing an example of Shait Gumbad Mosque in Bagerhat, he said the government’s archaeology department used plaster in the mosque’s pillars during its renovation works. “The mosque is an infrastructure that was built during the Sultani regime when the use of plaster was absent, thus people might conceptualise the site wrongly from such kind of alterations that diminish the originality.”
“The conservators often use different types of materials to renovate the sites in absence of the original ones,” said Prof Samsul Wares, convener of Tradition Conservation Committee of Poba, adding that such usage had to be stopped.
In absence of the original materials, the archaeological sites should be kept in its original state, he added.
Mozamamel Haque, professor at JU archaeology department, blamed that such occurrences were a result of lack in awareness regarding the importance of archaeology among both common people and authorities concerned.
He blamed the government’s idea of conducting archaeological renovations using contractors selected through a tender process.
Raising awareness among the common people on the importance of archaeological sites should be emphasised from the very beginning, like school, in order to protect the history in the coming generations, he continued.
Prof Abu Sayed M Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Architectural Institute, said a literature on archaeology should be included in both primary and high school syllabuses so that students know the country’s origins and culture.