Archaeologists on Sunday demanded initiatives to conserve and protect the heritage and archaeological sites of the country.
Speakers said that due to mismanagement and a lack of proper conservation, a number of heritage and archaeological sites are at the brink of extinction, causing economical losses to the country.
University of Liberal Arts, National Archaeological Resources Saving Parishad and Oiticcho Sangrakhan Committee of Save the Environment Movement organised the press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Some archaeological sites had been encroached upon, some are about to be demolished and some had been uncared for for years.
However, no government had taken steps yet to protect and conserve the archaeological relics of the old town, many of which have been damaged or distorted over the years, said archaeologist Shahnaz Husne Zahan.
She described the poor condition of the archaeological sites of the country including Wari-Bateswar, Mahasthangar, Vitorgar and Bodeshwari Fort.
In January 2012, the High Court asked the government to take steps to protect and preserve the ancient site of Mahasthangarh in Bogra, the order was not carried, she said.
Shahnaz urged the government to declare Vitorgar as a preserved archaeological site.
National Archaeological Resources Saving Parishad M A Kamal Uri demanded specific policies to save the archaeological sites including Vitorgar and Mahasthangar.
He said that many artifacts still go missing from the museums in the country and miscreants always go unpunished.
Oiticcho Sangrakhan Committee of Save the Environment Movement’s Sagor Lohani said that Lalbagh Fort, Choto Katra, Ruplal House, Pogos House, Dhanmondi Eidgah and the Satt Masjid’s poor condition showed negligence by the government.
Courtesy of New Age
