Opinion in savar

The "Harishchandra Rajar Dhibi" in Savar may appear to the visitors as a dump, garage, poultry farm or any sleazy place, but obviously never a 'protected' archaeological site.

The way the Department of Archaeology maintains the site only 32 kilometres off from the capital would definitely take visitors, if there is any, by surprise. They might even wonder what is happening to those sites scattered elsewhere across the country. But it's really no wonder the scenario is the same in almost everywhere in Bangladesh.

The government has not yet conducted a nationwide survey to trace or detect how many ancient sites are there in the country.

As many as 391 archaeological sites, many of which have already been encroached, have so far been announced "protected" since the British rule here. "Harishchandra Rajar Dhibi" in Savar is one of those.

A metalled road crosses a part of "Harishchandra Rajar Dhibi" on which heavy vehicles including goods-laden trucks ply all day long. A brick-built room stands at one point where a deep tube-well was installed once. Now people use the building for drying cow dung.