Most suitable for making bricks indeed!

A section of unscrupulous people taking away earth from this 1200-year-old archaeological site at Chandipur village in Birampur upazila of Dinajpur district, threatening the existence of a recently excavated Vishnu Temple nearby. Photo: STAR

A section of people are taking away the earth around the 'Vishnu Temple' at a recently discovered of 8th century archaeological site in Birampur upazila of Dinajpur, to use it for manufacturing brick in the next season.
Sixty to 70 bags of mud are being removed from around the temple daily as the callous act started on June 2, locals said.
Removal of earth from the surrounding area of the temple built during the rule of Paul dynasty will harm remains of the ancient structure, said sources of Bangladesh Archaeological Department.
The students and teachers of archaeology department of Jahangirnagar University discovered the site during a survey carried out in 2000, sources said.
In 2007, they started digging the site and unveiled the 8th Century Vishnu Temple at Chandipur village in Birampur upazila.
About 44 archaeological sites have been found in the area since the survey started in 2000.
"Seeing that some labourers were filling large jute bags with the mud of the temple area on June 2, I protested," said Didar Hossain, a resident of Chandipur village.
Later local UP Chairman Md Rahmat Ali was informed of the matter but to no effect, locals said.
One Nurul Islam engaged some labourers to collect mud from the temple area, saying that he had obtained permission from the UP chairman in this regard, they said.
Rahmat Ali, however, denied giving any permission to cut the earth of the temple area.
During a visit to the site on June 3, this correspondent saw about 80 bags of mud on the spot. Sensing presence of a journalist, the labourers left the place immediately.
This correspondent also came to know that a section of local influential people grabbed 1.72 acres of 'enemy property' in the area.
When contacted, Swadhin Sen, associate professor of Archaeology Department of Jahangirnagar University, also leader of the team that conducted digging at the site, said it is the responsibility of all to protect the newly found 8th century temple, which is a precious addition to the rich archaeological history of Bangladesh.
Contacted, Birampur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abul Khayer Muhammad Hafizullah Khan said that steps have been taken to resist any mud lifting around the temple.