Laurer Garh excavation begins
Months after being declared a protected archaeological site, the excavation of historic “Laurer Garh” in Sunamganj began yesterday morning.
Abdul Ahad, deputy commissioner of Sunamganj, inaugurated the excavation, to be conducted by the Department of Archaeology.
Marking the event, a programme was also held on the field of Halhalia Government Primary School.
Laurer Garh, also known as Halhalia Haoli or Rajbari, sprawls over 30 acres of land in Halhalia and Brahmangaon village under Tahirpur upazila. It is considered by historians an important landmark of several long-lost kingdoms of greater Sylhet region.
Ruins of a fort, palace and other structures have been visible in the area for a long time.
On September 25 last year, the cultural affairs ministry declared the area a protected archaeological site under the Antiquity Act 1968 (Amendment Ordinance 1976), said Dr Ataur Rahman, regional director of the archaeology department.
Starting on November 14, 2018, the archaeology department continued the excavation for three months, he said.
This year, a team of nine excavators including Dr Rahman will conduct the work. The archaeology department is also planning to set up an open-air museum at the site, said Dr Rahman.
According to veteran historian Achyut Charan Choudhury’s book, “Srihatter Itibritto”, Laurer Garh fort and Rajbari was part of “Kamrup Kingdom”, which used to be ruled by King Bhagadatta.
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