The remains of an ancient Buddhist town discovered recently at Tongibari upazila in Munshiganj district could be a thousand years old, said a team of Bangladeshi and Chinese archaeologists.
The discovery was made public at a press conference held at the excavation site in Nateshwar of the area on February 16.
Researchers said ancient scholar and philosopher Atish Dipankar was born in this part of Bangladesh. So, they hope to find out more about him if they continue the digging.
They have not yet done the tests required to determine the exact age of the remains, but based on the architectural designs of the ruins, they believe the town could be a thousand years old.
According to ancient bronze engravings, Munshiganj, formerly Bikrampur, used to be the affluent capital of the plain-land Banga, or the ancient Bengal.
The Agrasar Bikrampur Foundation, a non-government research organisation, launched an archaeological excavation in the area in Februrary 2010 with some financial support from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Veteran Awami League leader Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin is the chief patron of the initiative.
Apart from numerous independent researchers, students and teachers from the archeology departments of the Jahangirnagar and Comilla Universities took part in the excavation from time to time.
Later that year, a Buddhist monastery from 990-1050 BC was discovered at Raghurampur village in Rampal union. In 2014, the team of Chinese excavators joined the Tongibari operations.
Over the last two months, the excavators have discovered many different specimens at the site, such as octagonal piles, chambers, pedestals, etc.
Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, professor of achaeology at Jahangirnagar University, said: “We have found two concrete roads here which is proof the ancient civilisation had advanced engineering and architectural capabilities. They also tell us a lot about how these ancient people used to plan and design their habitats and cities.”
He said: “These also go to show that Munshiganj was once one of the most prosperous realms in this part of the world.”
Four Chinese archaeologists accompanied 20 researchers from Bangladesh in the excavation. The ongoing digging will go on until the rainy season comes. After the rain starts, the site will be kept under covers, and digging will resume in November again, said Md Mamun Dewan, project deputy director.
Prime Minister’s Adviser Gowher Rizvi, who was present at the press conference, said such discoveries have the potential to push an area towards immense development.
New Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ma Mingqiang, who also attended the programme, said his country was proud to be a part of this extraordinary excavation and hoped such initiatives would strengthen bilateral ties in the future.
