Concrete steps needed for conservation of Mahasthangarh from destruction

Mahasthangarh is one of the ancient urban settlements of the subcontinent.

Bearing evidence of nearly 2,500 years of uninterrupted human habitation, the site is a key connecting point not only on the cultural map of Bangladesh but also of the entire South and Southeast Asia.

Despite the global importance of the place, much of it is still unexplored. This ancient artifact is not listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Because of the negligence and indifference of those concerned in the conservation, supervision and even protection of this traditional archaeological resource, temporary structures have been built here, a lot of land has been occupied and even important artifacts are being stolen constantly.

That is why Mahasthangarh is still on the hesitant list of UNESCO’s heritage sites.

This is a big shortcoming not only for Bangladesh but also for the global cultural memory.

The potential to transform heritage, such as archaeological resources or installations, into a cultural economy is also being lost. But why this importance has not been realized yet?

Reportedly, an infrastructure project worth Tk 6.5 crore was taken up in 2016 with the joint funding of ADB and the government.

Under this, a suspension bridge, wooden over bridge and picnic spot has been built. In absence of maintenance and supervision, they are unusable today.

If effective steps are not taken quickly in this regard, one day Mahasthangarh will be relegated to the pages of books. It will not exist in reality.

From the perspective of cultural economy, Mahasthangarh has huge potential.

If Mahasthangarh is made tourism-friendly, on the one hand, it will create a revenue stream and on the other, it will be easier to maintain, modernize and preserve such important structures at our own expense.

It has a great opportunity to be included in Buddhist circuit tourism like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. It can be said that the place can be the main node of this circuit.

Mahasthangarh should first start the process of inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Although this is a long-term process, the desired goal will not be achieved if the preparation of the application is not started.

Such a nomination process plays a role in increasing domestic and international attention and also attracting a lot of funds.

The decline of Mahasthangarh did not happen suddenly. It is the result of decades of accumulated neglect.

But this decline is not irreversible if decisions are taken quickly.

What is needed now is a vibrant management structure, local partnerships, and concrete steps towards international recognition.