Syed Nasir Ershad

Last week I had an opportunity to visit Panchagarh, the northernmost district of Bangladesh. It was an official trip. However, people encouraged me to take time to go see Bhitorgarh which is a historical site and a matter of pride for us. Its location is about 16 km northeast of Panchagarh town in Amarkhana union under Panchagarh Sadar police station. Garh in Bangla means ‘fort’. So, the meaning of Panchagarh is the ‘five forts’ and the meaning of Bhitorgarh is ‘inner fort’. While we were there, a mela or fair was going on after the inauguration of the historical site. Interestingly, the site is actually transnational because portions of its outer enclosure on the northwest, the north and the northeast lie in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, India. According to local tradition, Bhitorgarh was the capital of a king named Prithu. He was a holy personage. But he was also very careful not to have his purity sullied by the outer world. The story goes like this that when an abominable tribe of impure feeders named Kichok attacked his kingdom, he threw himself into a tank or big pond to avoid being tainted or smeared by their impurity. All his guards also followed him and jumped into the water. Thus the town was given up to be plundered as there was nobody to guard it. From then on the family ceased to reign that kingdom.
Archaeologists carried out systematic archaeological investigation and excavation since 2008 which continued for a number of years in Panchagarh district. The site was in woeful state of preservation and there was ongoing pilferage too. Professor and students of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh have been conducting systematic archaeological exploration and excavation at Bhitorgarh under the title of “Experiencing the Past”. The project is facilitated by the Department of Archaeology and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh since 2013 onwards.
The archaeological investigations at Bhitorgarh Walled city from 2008 to date have revealed numerous unique features. Bhitorgarh is the largest fortified settlement in South Asia, extending over an area of about 25 square km. Enclosed within four concentric quadrangles surrounded by ramparts and moats, Bhitorgarh was an urban settlement. Well-planned internal layout and public architecture of Bhitorgarh are exclusive. An extensive water-body, Maharajar Dighi, with ten brick-paved ghats and brick casing lofty embankments made Bhitorgarh exceptional. It is estimated that Bhitorgarh might have functioned as an independent city-state governed by a sovereign administrative system sometime between 6th and 12th century CE. The inhabitants of Bhitorgarh had developed quite an ingenious structural feat for irrigation and cultivation throughout the year. The importance of Bhitorgarh primarily lay in trade because of its strategic position on the ancient overland and riverine routes connecting Tibet, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, Assam, Koch Bihar and the regions of the middle and lower Ganga valleys. Two rivers Karatoya and Tista played a very important role in the trade of the ancient city-state. Archaeological and natural beauty of Bhitorgarh makes it very special for cultural and eco-tourism.
When we were visiting different parts of the fort city of Bhitorgarh we could feel the immense potentiality it contained in terms of history and heritage of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, the archaeological remains of this ancient city are gradually disappearing due to human and natural activities. Necessary steps should be taken immediately to protect the archaeological heritage site of Bhitorgarh. Otherwise this historical site which is a matter of pride for us could wither away permanently in the antiquity.