Gupta era relic damaged for 'development work'
RELICS IN RUINS: This site of ancient relics of the Gupta period at Sarkarpara in Bogra Sadar upazila got damaged as the upazila parishad built a rural road in the 'protected area' under the Department of Archaeology. Photo: STAR
Bogra Sadar Upazila Parisad recently implemented a rural road project in Sarkarpara area destroying brick built structures of ancient Gupta period. Implemented under 'Karmo Srijoni programme', the road project started on October 16 and completed on December 18 last year, said Project Implementation Officer (PIO) in Bogra Sadar, Shamsunnahar Sheuly. The whole process was done without the knowledge of the Department of Archaeology although it is a protected site under the department. After being informed, Naheed Sultana, custodian of Mahasthan Archaeological Museum, on 19 January lodged a general diary with Bogra Sadar police station enclosing a copy of the Archaeology Act for necessary action. She also sent a letter to Bogra Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sultana Pervin in this regard. Asked about the matter, the UNO said that local people made a rural road using ancient bricks and soil of the protected archaeological site but it was unknown to the project authority. Regional Director of the Department of Archaeology Md Badrul Alam told this correspondent that the authority has taken initiative to protect the site according to the Antiquity Act. Taleb Ali, 85, and a few other local people said that at least 700 metre newlt built road cut through the site. A few months earlier, Bogra Sadar upazila parishad started a similar project destroying another ancient archaeological site 'Boro Tagra' that also included structures of Gupta period. However, the project was suspended following protests from different quarters.
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