RAJSHAHI UNIVERSITY, Rajshahi, July 23: Rajshahi University (RU) administration has taken an initiative to launch an archaeology department, which is meant to facilitate research and higher education on the rich history, archaeology, and cultural heritages of the Varendra region.
The Varendra Research Museum housed in RU, which contains around 17,000 rare archaeological specimens, is managed by the university authorities.
Established in 1910, the country's first museum is losing its archaeological treasures due to lack of research activities for the absence of an archaeology department. In that reality, the RU administration felt the urgency to open the department.
All policy decisions have already been taken and activities of the department will begin soon after a discussion with the University Grants Commission (UGC), said the university's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Dr Mohammad Main Uddin.
Earlier, the new director of the Varendra Research Museum Dr Kazi Md Mostafizur Rahman, also professor of the Department of Islamic History and Culture, confirmed the initiative to launch the archaeology department at RU.
"Rajshahi should have been the first; because artifacts are being found in North Bengal, and the biggest thing is that there is no such big museum anywhere else. We think that it will be possible to implement the initiative soon. A separate department will be able to take responsibility for research and maintenance," Dr Mostafizur Rahman said.
Jahangirnagar University was first to have established archaeology department among other universities of the country (in 1992). The department was also opened at Comilla University in 2013.
In addition, Begum Rokeya University, which was established in 2008, also has a department of that type called 'History and Archaeology'.
On the other hand, historians and researchers have termed this initiative to be timely and important for the development of research and higher education.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts of Rajshahi University, Professor Dr Mohammad Belal Hossain, said, "It is unfortunate that the oldest Varendra Research Museum in the country is located in Rajshahi, but there was no separate department for research around it. I applaud the initiative taken by the administration. I hope that when this department is launched, new doors will open for archaeological research, conservation and higher education."
In this regard, the university's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), Professor Dr Md Farid Uddin Khan, said Rajshahi University has a heritage museum and it is the oldest museum in the region. But unfortunately, despite being the second largest university in the country, there is no archaeology department here.
He also said, "If we notice that Jahangirnagar University, Begum Rokeya University and Cumilla University have such department---- We have talked about this and we have a land next to our Varendra Research Museum where we think it is possible if we take the initiative."
Referring to the launch of the Archaeology Department, Rajshahi University's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Mohammad Main Uddin said, "It is necessary to launch the Archaeology Department here to preserve the pride and heritage of the first museum in Bengal and the university. We are thinking about the matter seriously. All our policy decisions have been taken, and work is underway to preserve and display the museum's artifacts. Once these preparations are complete, an attempt will be made to open the department very soon with the permission of the UGC."
Regarding the overall situation, the vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Dr Saleh Hasan Naqib said, there is a plan to open a research-based archaeology department. Although it is a time-consuming process, we are optimistic. This is a suitable place for archaeological research in North Bengal. As a prosperous university, Rajshahi University should definitely have this department. We have taken our thoughts seriously.
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