1000-year-old pagoda discovered in Munshiganj

A thousand years old Buddhist temple has been discovered in Nateshwar area of Tongibari upazila in Munshiganj district. “We estimate the temple was built more than a thousand years ago during the Gupta or Sen dynasty. More importantly, the temple was built during the period of Atish Dipankar,” archeologist Prof Dr Sufi Mostafizur Rahman told UNB. Atish Dipankar Srijnan (980-1053AD) was a well-known Buddhist scholar, religious preceptor and philosopher of this land. Prof Mostafizur said the temple was decorated with rich architectural design depicting the arts and culture of ancient times and hoped that more historical sites of Buddhist era will be found in Munshiganj district. He said Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor formally announced the discovery of the ancient Buddhist temple at a function at Nateshwar in Munshiganj on Friday.