HERITAGE sites in the capital and elsewhere in Bangladesh are in the danger of disappearance. The authorities’ apathy has been blamed by archaeologist, architects and urban planners for the decay and disappearance of invaluable historical and cultural sites across the country. As per news media, in last 10 years, over 600 heritages buildings and other structures, some built during the Mughal period, were demolished. The rapid growth of urbanization has been knocking down the old heritage sites to build market and residential complex on the sites for meeting the growing demand. The heritage buildings, structures, monuments, and souvenir are the existence of past at present. The Department of Archaeology should not bow before money and troublemakers in preserving the sites as it has a huge potentiality for heritage tourism also.
We know archaeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture, and also can be considered both a social science and a branch of the humanities. It may consist of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, and cultural landscapes. It is considered a sub-field of anthropology in North America while it is often viewed as either a discipline in its own right or a sub-field of other disciplines in Europe.
In Bangladesh, the scenario is different. Bara Katara and Chhota Katara, among the historic Dhaka City’s landmark structures built in mid of 17th Century, were partially demolished even after they were on the list for preservation. Amligola Havely of the Mughal era is completely demolished. Despite a High Court’s injunction, the Sudhamoy House situated in the city’s old town was knocked down. Many Mughal era structures on the Jagannath Shaha Road, Thakur Das Lane, Kalicharan Shaha Street and other places in the Old Town of Dhaka including at Shakharibazar have been demolished. Urban Study Group, concern for preserving heritage sites, has prepared a list of 2,283 heritage buildings in the Old Town of Dhaka. In 2017, Rajuk notified the capital’s 75 structures as heritage buildings reducing the number of 92 Rajuk notified in 2009, a mystery without explanation but doubting. It becomes helpful for the grabbers due to lack of a comprehensive list of the nation’s heritage sites and structures.
A country’s heritage preservation policies narrate a country’s aggregate intellectual evolution. But the absence of a national preservation plan has been identified as the main cause for the fast disappearance of our heritage sites. Legislative measures alone will not be enough to stop rampant demolitions because economic incentives to tear down a building often outweigh the “manageable” penalty for breaking the law.
The financial benefits of architectural tourism have not yet explored in Bangladesh though the Old Dhaka may be considered a proper place for it. Whereas we still do not see any government initiative to save the heritage sites from the grip of land grabbers.
