BARISHAL, Apr 6: Historical Baroda Kanta Math of Hizla Upazila and Ulania Zamindar Bari of Mehendiganj Upazila have been enlisted by Archaeology Department to be preserved as historical sites, which are now on the verge of ruination.
Two separate letters from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Archaeology to Barishal Divisional Museum, confirmed their decisions recently, said Shahin Alam, custodian of the museum.
"We welcome the decision of the Department to preserve it as an archaeological site," said Dr Ashoke Kumar Bhattacharya, president of Preservation Committee of Baroda Kanta Math at Kauria Bazaar of Guarekha Union under erosion affected Hizla Upazila.
The tomb was constructed on the cremation spots of local Zamindar Ram Kanai Mitra and his wife on three acres of land by their son Baroda Kanta Mitra Roy Chowdhury, a local landlord in 1899.
The two buildings are about 80 feet high, which attract many visitors daily for architectural beauty, he added.
On the other hand, Ulania of Mehendiganj near the estuary of Meghna-Arial Kha was looted several times by the Burmese Mogh and Portuguese pirates during Mughal period.
Shahbaz Khan, armed forces commander of Mughal Emperor Akbar, was sent to curb the pirates, and the region was named as Shahbazpur after him.
After his return to capital, the pirates again started to loot the area and then Aga Mehedi, an armed forces commander of Mughal Emperor Aurangajeeb, was sent to Shabazpur region to contain the bully of Burmese Mogh and Portuguese pirates in the 16th century.
After curbing the pirates, Aga Mehedi returned to capital and Muhammad Hanif, accompanied descendent of Aga Mehedi, remained and settled at Ulania of Mehendiganj as Zamindar by taking charge from Mughal Emperor, said local historian Sirajuddin Ahmed, quoting local people and history books.
Muhammad Hanif constructed the Ulania Zamindar Bari with buildings, mosque, pond and other structures.
However, most of the evidences of that period except the part of the Zamindar Castle, mosque and pond were already eroded away by erosion of the Meghna River, and the remainder is also under threats of erosion, said Atikur Rahman Himu, local activist of Mehendiganj for preservation of historical sites.
The Baroda Math of Hizla and Ulania Zamindar Bari of Mehendiganj are remarkable for its historical values and decorations.
So the department as per instruction of the ministry decided to take steps for preserving those valuable sites, said Shahin Anam, custodian of Barisal Divisional Museum.
The Archaeology Department will protect, repair and maintain the sights as public interest. A signboard would be set up for this announcement immediately, he added.
