Important archaeological sites and monuments such as Mount of Raja Harishchandra in Savar and Roelbari in Netrokona are left without conservation although digging was done there more than 10 years ago.

The department also failed to conserve the largest bronze statue of Buddha found at Bhoj Raja's house in Mainamati. Famous archaeological sites in the capital like Bara Katara and Chhoto Katara and Sat Gombuj Mosque also lack proper maintenance.

Sources in the department said government fund flow dried up over the last 10 years although the number of monuments to be conserved by the department increased at the same time. Presently, the department gets a yearly fund of Tk 1.20 crore against around Tk 1.60 crore a decade ago. The department also receives a separate fund from the government for its Civil Works Conservation, which has been reduced to Tk 25 lakh from Tk 60 lakh.

The number of archaeological monuments under the department, which was only 186 10 years ago, has risen to at least 355 over the years. Moreover, there are 14 museums across the country that the department has to look after. Insiders in the department said they found it difficult to maintain so many monuments and heritage sites with such a low budget.

Shortage of manpower is another obstacle affecting the department's

work. Though the organogram of the department approves it to have at least 426 staff, fewer than 320 staff currently work with it. About 110 posts are vacant, as there has been no fresh recruitment for the last seven years. "There were no replacement to the posts left vacant by resignation or death of staff," said an official, seeking anonymity.

For manpower shortage, the department fixes 'workers on charge' or temporary workers to maintain the archaeological sites. As these workers are not government employees, they are not paid directly from the government. Sources said around Tk 80 lakh from the department's fund is spent on payment for such temporary workers.

The department can barely allot Tk 7 to 8 lakh to its four regional offices at Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi and as a result, it tends to maintain archaeological sites on a priority basis.

Dewan Delwar Hossain, director of Department of Archaeology, admitted to facing a fund crisis. He, however, said authorities have contacted the ministry which has assured them of looking into the matter.