Archaeological site harmed to make homes
It was once part of the capital of the powerful Pala dynasty which ruled Bengal up till the 12th century. The earthen wall protecting the fort from invaders still stands in present-day Dharmapalagarh village of Nilphamari's Jaldhaka upazila.
The top of this wall has now been leveled and the land used to build multiple government housing projects for the poor over the years, despite the land being declared a reserved archaeological site 35 years ago.
The houses stand on the partially leveled wall and the raised land, so high that the jute fields beside them look quite short in comparison.
During a recent visit to the area, this correspondent observed that residents of the housing projects are also indiscriminately digging on the raised land to plant crops, posing further threat to the wall, raising concern among historians and villagers.
Retired schoolteacher and prominent local 75-year-old Khitish Chandra Roy said, "There was a 50-60 feet tall earthen wall stretching several kilometres surrounding the Pala-era capital. It was difficult even for vigorous youths to climb."
Several other villagers expressed frustration saying that the site brought honour to their village and its damage shocked them.
Dharmapalagarh, declared reserved by the Department of Archaeology in 1987, is one of 524 such sites in the country.
In an excavation drive in Dharmapalagarh in 2016, the archaeology department unearthed a Buddhist temple along with other structures believed to be built in the 12th century -- only 50 metres away from the historical wall where the housing projects are situated.
Dharmapalagarh Union Parishad Chairman Zaminur Rahman said, "Two housing projects under Guchhagram and Ashrayan comprising a total 110 houses meant for the poor were built at Dharmapalagarh in 2019 and 2020." These were both implemented during his term as chairman.
The Ashrayan-2 project was started by the Prime Minister's Office to provide free housing to homeless and landless people across the country on the occasion of Mujib Borsho last year.
The Guchhagram-2 phase project, started by the land ministry in 2015, aims to rehabilitate landless poor affected by climate change, river erosion, and other natural disasters.
Before these, an earlier housing project of 40 houses had been implemented there in 2003, informed the UP chairman.
Historian and author of "History of Nilphamari" published by Bangla Academy, Zahangir Alam Sarkar said, "It is an act of utter callousness as the authorities, instead of protecting the reserved archaeological site, damaged it.
"I urge the department concerned to repair the damage and protect the remaining part [of the wall]."
However, far from taking measures, the authorities concerned seem to have no idea of the state of the reserved archaeological site.
Nahid Sultana, regional director of the archaeology department, said, "I've asked the custodian of the Rangpur museum to visit the reserved site at Dharmapalagarh and submit a report mentioning the present situation as it is difficult to conduct monitoring during the pandemic."
Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner Hafizur Rahman Chowdhury said the department was yet to bring the matter to his knowledge.
"The site is now under the authority of the archaeology department and whenever they seek cooperation, we will render it," he said.
With regard to the historical and archaeological significance of the land, past Member of Parliament from the Nilphamari-3 constituency Golam Mostofa, said, "In the 10th Jatiya Sangsad session, I had requested the government to launch an extensive drive to find out the glorious past of the Pala dynasty at Dharmapalagarh."
They should work to protect the site, he added.
Assistant custodian of Rangpur Museum SM Hasanat quoted from widely accepted history book, "Bangladesher Protno Sampad" (archaeological assets of Bangladesh) to put emphasis on the archaeological importance of the area.
He said king Dharmapal, son of Horshopal of Kamrup empire, conquered a good part of northern Bengal and built a fort at Gar Dharmapal village, named after him 900 years ago.
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