Lack of conservation efforts and greed of some unscrupulous individuals is resulting in the loss of Dhaka’s historical stone inscriptions, said researchers yesterday.
Over 100 ancient inscriptions were lost in the last 30 years, mostly in the late 90s, stated the Committee for Documentation on Architectural Sites in Dhaka after a four-year voluntary investigation patronised by Dhaka University (DU).
The committee, comprising architects, translators, sculptors, photographers and journalists, published their second report on the lost inscriptions at a ceremony in DU’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.
The researchers took the painstaking task of going to every ancient mosque, tomb, temple, church and cemetery to collect information about the inscriptions, said DU Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, the committee’s chairperson.
“The stone inscriptions are valuable pieces of Dhaka’s rich cultural history. Losing them means losing our history, he said.
Renowned archaeologist Abul Kalam Mohammad Zakaria said, “Nothing will remain of the valuable inscription stones if we keep losing them at the present rate.”
Noted architect and art critic Shamsul Wares said the inscriptions provide valuable insight into the societies of people who came to this part of the world from different continents centuries ago. The government must take steps to protect them, he said.
Sculptor Rasha said there was a conspiracy behind the disappearance of the historic relics. It is necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice, he said.
“Looking for personal gains, a number of educated people had tried to smuggle the valuable relics out of the country and destroy our heritage,” he added.
Over 100 ancient inscriptions were lost in the last 30 years, mostly in the late 90s, stated the Committee for Documentation on Architectural Sites in Dhaka after a four-year voluntary investigation patronised by Dhaka University (DU).
The committee, comprising architects, translators, sculptors, photographers and journalists, published their second report on the lost inscriptions at a ceremony in DU’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.
The researchers took the painstaking task of going to every ancient mosque, tomb, temple, church and cemetery to collect information about the inscriptions, said DU Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, the committee’s chairperson.
“The stone inscriptions are valuable pieces of Dhaka’s rich cultural history. Losing them means losing our history, he said.
Renowned archaeologist Abul Kalam Mohammad Zakaria said, “Nothing will remain of the valuable inscription stones if we keep losing them at the present rate.”
Noted architect and art critic Shamsul Wares said the inscriptions provide valuable insight into the societies of people who came to this part of the world from different continents centuries ago. The government must take steps to protect them, he said.
Sculptor Rasha said there was a conspiracy behind the disappearance of the historic relics. It is necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice, he said.
“Looking for personal gains, a number of educated people had tried to smuggle the valuable relics out of the country and destroy our heritage,” he added.
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