Out of a total of 164 protected archaeological sites in 16 northern districts, at least 150 have been devoid of required security measures for a long time.
Regional Director (RD) of the Department of Archaeology in Rajshahi Md Badrul Alam says a large number of posts meant for security guards at the sites, including Paharpur Bihar in Naogaon which is a Unesco World Heritage Site, have remained unoccupied for a long period of time.
“We are trying to ensure security in monuments in several districts using our limited resources,” Badrul said.
“Several letters were sent to officials concerned, requesting them to fill the vacant positions and also to create new ones to ensure better security,” he added.
Sources at RD office in Bogra said security at a number of sites is currently maintained by security personnel the department appointed on the master roll but some of the monuments, like “Potazia” in Sirajgang, are still unguarded.
Only 232 security officials have been protecting the 164 sites in the 16 districts, though the required figure is 820, sources said.
Md Sadekuzzaman, custodian of Mahasthangarh Archaeological Museum, said there are 44 protected sites in Mahasthangarh and the adjacent areas.
The department only has 18 people on the master roll to protect the sites but they need 264 people, sources said.
There is a need for at least 51 permanent security guards to ensure security in Mahasthangarh but a mere four are there to guard one of the most prominent archaeological sites in South Asia, according to sources.
A similar situation prevails in Paharpur Bihar and the 11 other sites that surround it. There is a need for at least 72 security officials but only 24 have been deployed.
The department has installed lighting facilities in some parts of Paharpur Bihar a few years back in the wake of the theft of many terracotta objects.
Meanwhile, 14 monuments in Puthia, Rajshahi lie unsecured as there are only six guards there when there should be 84, said a senior official of the Archaeology Department.
A large number of terracotta items were stolen from the site a few years ago because there were no guards, according to the department.
