Conserving heritage, historical sites

In Bangladesh, numerous sites hold significant religious, cultural, and historical importance and have endured for many centuries. Nevertheless, many historical structures that are symbols of the nation's rich heritage no longer exist, and many of the existing sites or structures are also not well-preserved. The failure to acknowledge and celebrate their own culture and heritage has disconnected people, particularly the younger generations, from the country. Moreover, the authorities are facing multiple challenges in restoring and preserving the antiquities due to a lack of adequate budget, the absence of necessary support from relevant quarters, and a lack of awareness among the people. 

The Department of Archaeology, a key entity under the Ministry of Culture, is responsible for preserving Bangladesh's antiquities and archaeological sites. Currently, the department oversees 536 protected and listed antiquities and archaeological sites, including two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur and the Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat.  These sites, recognised as cultural heritage, were inscribed in the UNESCO list in 1985. The Sundarbans, the third site of Bangladesh on the UNESCO list, is recognised as a natural heritage and inscribed in 1997. The Sundarbans is managed by the Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 

Despite being a part of the World Heritage, the preservation of the Shat Gambuj Mosque (also known as the Sixty Dome Mosque or Shait Gambuj Masjid) in Bagerhat is now in danger due to both natural and man-made factors. Last week, the Department of Archaeology organised a public meeting in Bagherhat in an effort to raise awareness among the people about the importance of preserving the historic structure, as well as the entire heritage site, which includes other ancient mosques and structures. The UNESCO website describes the heritage as: "Situated in the suburbs of Bagerhat, at the meeting-point of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, this ancient city, formerly known as Khalifatabad, was founded by the Turkish general Ulugh Khan Jahan in the 15th century. The city's infrastructure reveals considerable technical skill and an exceptional number of mosques and early Islamic monuments, many built of brick, can be seen there."

Shait Gambuj Mosque is the most iconic heritage structure of Bagerhat and draws thousands of tourists throughout the year. The construction of the mosque was started approximately in 1442, and it was completed in 1459. Ulugh Khan, popularly known as Khan Jahan Ali, was a Muslim saint and preacher also, and it is widely believed that the masque was constructed under his supervision. The historical mosque has survived for around six centuries, facing numerous natural disasters. 

Besides the natural hits like salinity and fungal attacks on the walls and floors of the mosque, the frequent movements of heavy vehicles on the adjoined Barishal-Bagerhat-Khulna regional highway become a threat to the stability of the mosque. Vibration generated from the movement of buses and trucks has already started to erode the durability of the structure. It is noteworthy that when the regional highway was developed, the authorities did not consider the potential risk to the heritage site. The Roads and Highways Department, under the Ministry of Transport and Communication, did not feel any need to maintain contact with the Department of Archaeology. 

Again, various structures, such as hotels, restaurants, and footbridges, are constructed around the heritage site, violating the archaeological and heritage preservation acts. In the meeting, officials from the archaeology department alleged that a tendency has also been evident to overlook the core zone and buffer zone of the world heritage site. The influx of tourists and the irresponsible behaviour of some of them also pose a threat to the heritage structure. In some cases, local vendors also create a nuisance near the site. Again, the problems are not unique to the Shait Gambuj Mosque. Most of the archaeological sites and structures across the country face common challenges. In some cases, land grabbers, drug peddlers and local criminals try to make their hideout in these sites. The indifferent attitude of law enforcement agencies exacerbates the situation. So, a collective effort is a must to preserve and protect all these historical sites and structures. It is a collective responsibility of the citizens to acknowledge and celebrate home-grown culture and heritage and ensure their preservation for the future generation. 

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