Valuing the past matters

The nation’s ability to preserve our past benefits culture and society in the present day
The recently discovered remnants of an ancient Buddhist town in the village of Nateshwar in Tongibari upazila provide visible proof of Bangladesh’s rich heritage.

It is welcome to see a team of 20 archaeologists and monks from China, India and Korea visiting the excavated ruins – thought to be around a thousand years old – believing it to be the birthplace of famed Buddhist scholar Atish Dipankar.

We may still be relatively young as a state, but the rich cultural history of our land stretches back thousands of years. It is vital authorities support efforts to learn about, preserve and celebrate remains from our past.

The popularity of the site, with increasing numbers of people from both within and outside the locality visiting the area regularly, shows the value and importance of improving understanding of the country’s heritage. Universities and government should support more such archaeological digs and drives and find ways to harness their value by developing and improving museums and places of interest.

Informational boards can be set up in areas such as these, detailing their history, as a way to educate visitors about their significance; and with the proper faculties put in place, they can easily be transformed into potential hotspots for any foreign tourists visiting.

Valuing the past is not just a way of improving historical understanding. The nation’s ability to preserve our past benefits culture and society in the present day. We can accomplish that and more.

dhakatribune

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