Archaeology Department sources said although the museum, which was established in 1967 at Mahasthangarh under Shibganj upazila of Bogra, was expanded in 1977, it is still not spacious enough to preserve all the antiquities found at the site over the years.

"Only 3,490 square feet area and 44 showcases in the museum are not sufficient to preserve thousands of relics including valuable statues," said a high official of the department in Bogra.

A huge number of statues, terracotta arch panels with inscriptions, ornamented bricks, earthen pots including ancient "northern black polish ware", and metal and non-metal objects from different periods have been stored in a warehouse at the site without proper care, said a senior official of the Archaeology Department.

Antiquities awaiting immediate proper preservation include a decorated two-part wooden door from the 18th century recovered long ago from Belhamla village in Joypurhat.

A former custodian of the museum said, "We need modern lighting facilities to display the exceptional decoration of this wooden door properly but it has been kept in a dark corner of the museum."

Dr Shafiqul Alam, director of the Archaeology Department, told The Daily Star over cellphone that a project proposal for establishing a modern museum at Mahasthangarh was submitted to the ministry concerned long ago. The proposal that also includes development work of infrastructures of the department at Mahasthangarh Archaeological Site is yet to be approved.