COX'S BAZAR, Sept 18: A 300-year-old pagoda built on a hilltop in Kawarkop Union of Cox's Bazar's Ramu Upazila fell into disrepair and landslides for several years took away the boundary walls of the site of achaeological importance in the north and west.
During a field visit, it was found that soil at the eastern side of the pagoda shifted and locals fear that the resulting landslide from heavy rains in the future will make the Buddhist pagoda collapse completely. Currently, it remains almost abandoned.
From the ground, it is visible that there are no roads or stairs to climb the hill of the pagoda and landslides are also common in the hill and other hills surrounding it. Following a hike to the pagoda on the Jadi hill, which is the highest in the upazila, breathtaking views of Cox's Bazar city, Bankkhali River and Bharuakhali comes before the eye. Sumath Barua, a local resident, said, the pagoda is located on top of the 550 feet hill. "Although this ancient monument has been under threat for several years, there is no initiative to restore or protect it."
The Jadi Hill is important to Buddhist since ancient times, according to Advocate Shipta Barua. "It is now on the verge of being lost. If this Jadi Hill can be restored quickly and saved, new possibilities for tourism will be created here." Shrimat Chandrabodhi Bhikkhu, the principal of the Aryavansh Buddhist Monastery, said, "The Jadi (pagoda) is currently in a dilapidated condition." There is a fear that the pagoda may collapse at any moment if it is not renovated quickly, he added.
"We have heard the heritage and history of this Jadi from our forefathers. It is intertwined with the heritage of Ramu. If this historical monument can be preserved, it will play a role in the promotion of education, research, culture and tourism," local elder Muzaffar Ahmed said. He believes that the government needs to take urgent initiatives to preserve the pagoda.
The local Rakhine community is responsible for maintaining the pagoda.
Uthenching Rakhine, the president of the Jadi Maintenance Committee, said, they have informed public representatives and government offices to repair the pagoda, but no work has been done.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Salahuddin said the Buddhist sites and relics of Ramu are special for Bangladesh and the Department of Archaeology is working to protect these historical structures. Urgent renovation initiatives will be taken to maintain them, he added.
The pagoda was quite smaller in size when it was first built. The first renovation work of the site was completed by Mongpru Baidya or Saktang, the elder brother of Khijari Dalal. A philanthropist, Daang Dalal, enlarged the size of the pagoda in 1900. At the same time, he built a boundary wall around the pagoda. Since 1950, an annual fair has been held in this pagoda with a large gathering of people, but such is not seen nowadays.
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