Department of Archaeology, responsible for preventing breach of the law, is toothless. Observers say monuments can be saved only by making it strong and independent.
The 144-year-old water tank, locally known as “Bahadur Shah Park Panir Tanky” on Old Dhaka’s Johnson Road, was declared a historical monument in May 2020 by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). Despite the recognition, it has been forgotten and neglected.
If one goes to look for Farashganj Ruplal House in Dhaka, it would be a near impossible task to find it amid hundreds of shops. When they do get there eventually, they will find an old residential building covered with moss. Thanks to the negligence of the authorities.
Years after some 30-40 ancient artefacts were discovered from inside the old central jail compound in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area, information regarding the total number of artefacts at the site or their age is yet to be ascertained due to an internal issue between the Department of Archaeology (DoA) and the excavation team.