Preserving the post
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Ifteqar Ahmed
Though a new country Bangladesh can look back to its rich antiquity. Relics speak of civilisations created by past dynasties. Hindu, Bhuddist and Muslim rulers left a legacy for which the people can feed proud. Monuments in ruin are an eloquent testimony to a glorious past spanning centuries. The invaluable relics call for better preservation. But a gross negligence is taking its toll. Disintegration and encroachment of remnants of monuments and historical sights are the obvious results.
The neglect of Bangladesh proud heritage is indeed unpardonable. The situation calls for urgent and systematic action to reverse the undesirable trend. The government needs to act. It must pay undivided attention to preserve all historical sights and relics. The heritage objects and sites must be brought under its control without delay for proper preservation. According to recent newspaper reports two organisations, dedicated to protecting the heritage of old Dhaka, called for declaring the centuries old Shakharibazar in old Dhaka as a heritage site. It deserves action. Several other historical buildings and sites in old Dhaka, which speak of Bangladesh heritage deserve preservation. No one should be allowed to encroach upon. Neither weather should be allowed to destroy whatever remains.
All the other heritage sites throughout Bangladesh call for identification and preservation. There should be no exception. The government must take over the sites and objects without any further waste of time to secure them. Before that all the historical sites and cultural or archaeological objects must be identified.
The ongoing building spree must be allowed to pull down historical buildings and structures. History cannot make way for sparkling high-rise buildings. Greed is taking a heavy toll. Bangladesh must halt it. The symbols of the glorious past must be preserved. Not many nations can look to get inspiration for the future. The roots of the civilisation and culture that is Bangladesh are too valuable to neglect.
The demolition squads, driven by but, cannot be allowed to destroy what symbolised a nation.
Though a new country Bangladesh can look back to its rich antiquity. Relics speak of civilisations created by past dynasties. Hindu, Bhuddist and Muslim rulers left a legacy for which the people can feed proud. Monuments in ruin are an eloquent testimony to a glorious past spanning centuries. The invaluable relics call for better preservation. But a gross negligence is taking its toll. Disintegration and encroachment of remnants of monuments and historical sights are the obvious results.
The neglect of Bangladesh proud heritage is indeed unpardonable. The situation calls for urgent and systematic action to reverse the undesirable trend. The government needs to act. It must pay undivided attention to preserve all historical sights and relics. The heritage objects and sites must be brought under its control without delay for proper preservation. According to recent newspaper reports two organisations, dedicated to protecting the heritage of old Dhaka, called for declaring the centuries old Shakharibazar in old Dhaka as a heritage site. It deserves action. Several other historical buildings and sites in old Dhaka, which speak of Bangladesh heritage deserve preservation. No one should be allowed to encroach upon. Neither weather should be allowed to destroy whatever remains.
All the other heritage sites throughout Bangladesh call for identification and preservation. There should be no exception. The government must take over the sites and objects without any further waste of time to secure them. Before that all the historical sites and cultural or archaeological objects must be identified.
The ongoing building spree must be allowed to pull down historical buildings and structures. History cannot make way for sparkling high-rise buildings. Greed is taking a heavy toll. Bangladesh must halt it. The symbols of the glorious past must be preserved. Not many nations can look to get inspiration for the future. The roots of the civilisation and culture that is Bangladesh are too valuable to neglect.
The demolition squads, driven by but, cannot be allowed to destroy what symbolised a nation.