Strategies for Conservation of Heritage Sites in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a glorious and rich historical, cultural heritage and diverse archeological treasure as back as 2000 BC. In the four thousands or more years of its history, many illustrious dynasties of kings and sultans have ruled and disappeared and have left their ark in the shape of magnificent cities and monuments, the desolate ruins of which still visible in many places throughout the country. The ancient chronicles, when extolling its captivating beauty, have described the country as ¿a land of emerald and silver¿, ¿a garden fit for kings¿ or even as the Mughal official documents styled it ¿jannat-ul-bilad¿ (the paradise of countries). As Bradley Birt, a romantic writer has graphically stated: ¿At the whim of kings and conquerors, eager to perpetuate their fame, new cities have arisen with starting rapidly, often but to be deserted in their turn well nigh before the last stones have crowned the minarets and pinnacles of their mosques and palaces¿.