The town of Dinajpur lies in the northern part of Bangladesh. Now it is the district headquarter. The Dinajpur district in the colonial period was first divided into two parts with district of West Dinajpur (now South Dinajpur) falling into the jurisdiction of West Bengal, India and Dinajpur within Bangladesh. District of Dinajpur was further fragmented to form several districts during administrative reforms in post-independence Bangladesh. District of Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and others are now often called Greater Dinnajpur District.
This entire area, falling within the old geograpic category Varendri or Varendra, has been the location of past human activities since at least 4th- 5th century ACE. Archaeological surveys conducted from various methodological approches since 18th century have revealed archaeological records of different natures and patterns. Archaeological records like structural and non-structural mounds, old ponds and wells, garbege pits, discarded heaps of pottery, metal working areas and slag deposits are some of the categories of records which have been recognized and recorded by different archaeological enterprises. Hundreds of sculptures and stone made architectural components, coins along with small objects of innumerable varieties have been reported to be found from this area. Importance of the area with the archaeological records and artifacts is immense as they may be a valyable and reliable source of interpreting the post-5th century history of human activity patterns with changes and continuity.
However, the location of the area on and around the Bangladesh-India border has endangered the archaeological testimonies to an alarming extent. It is because of the fact that illicit trade of antiquities in the form of looting and smuggling of transportable artifacts have found a comparatively easy ground of prey in the area. Post partition migration and resettlement internal to the national boundary have had a profound effect on the past signatures in the area. The archaeological records protected in many localities by deciduous forest cover faced the destruction to a formidable rate first during the post-partition period because of migrants coming from the western part of divided Bengal on one hand and through the mass exodus of the population from Hindu, Santal and other ethnic minorities to the western side of the frontier. The coming which was much higher than migrating minorities made an impact on dynamics of population, cultivable land and settlements. The forest cover and the archaeological records were destroyed to increase the extent and proportion of cultivable land. At the same time, archaeological remains, predominantly Hindu-Buddhist in religious affiliation suddenly became unprotected and abandoned because of the migrations of minority population. They have fallen prey to the land grabbing local elites and smugglers at the same time. The post-60s phenomenon of internal migrations has affected these conditions of destruction to the greatest extent.
Under these circumstances of destruction, looting and smuggling of artifacts, Dinajpur Museum was established in the town of Dinajpur by evidently communetarian and local initiatives. There was no local repository of archaeological and historical materials in this very important yet gradually obliterating juncture of past for over a long time. It was through the dynamic and committed effort of a group of people from this small town under the leadership of A. K. M. Zakaria, then the District Commissioner, Dinajpur Museum was established in 1968 in a corrugated tin shed building close to the well known Khaza Nazimuddin Muslim Hall and Library at the centre of the town.
The collections of the museum have been gathered primarily through the surveys and explorations of Mr. Zakaria and his companion Mr. Mehrab Ali and Mr. Daud in different part of the northern region. Mr. Mehrab Ali, who acted as the first honorary curator of the museum, and Mr. Mokarram Hossen are another two personalities acted very significantly in the establishment and development of this small museum.
The other persons who played an important role in the establishment of the musem are: Mr. Moin Udding Chowdhury, Mr. Yusuf Ali, Mr. Mahmood Mokarram Hossen, Mr. Rahim udding Ahmed, Mr. Shah Mahtabuddin, Mr. A. M. I. Z. Yusuf, Dr. Hafizuddin Ahmed, Mr. Md. Solaiman, Mr. M. A. Rahim. Mr. Khairul Anam, Dr. Samir Uddin Ahmed, Mr. Omar Ali, Mr. Shah Md. Yusuf, Dr. Aftab Uddin, Mr. Rizwanul Hoque Chowdhury, Mr. Chittaranjan Saha and Mr. Gopal Chandra Bhoumic.
According Zakaria (1989: 28), he and Mr. Mehrab Ali started to collect artifact in Dinajpur area in 1967. He refers to the fact that although the artifacts from this area were being displayed in vaourious museums aborad, at first they were not getting enough cultural materials and most of the srtifacts which they recovered were damaged. This statement of Zakaria testifies to the colonial and post-colonial looting and destruction of archaeological materials from this area. The first object, which was collected, according to Zakaria (Ibid.) was a decorated stone piece from Baigram temple area in Hakimpur upazila.
An executive committee was formed with the District Commissioner as the chair in 1968 to manage the museum. It was also decided that the museum will be managed under the jurisdiction of Khaza Nazimuddin Muslim Hall and Library.
The museum participated in the excavation of Sitakot Vihara at Nawabganj thana jointly with the then Directorate of Archaeology of East Pakisthan. Most of the artifacts which was recovered during the excavation were stored and displayed in the museum.
The museum had a severely damaging impact during the Liberation War in 1971. Many of the artifacts from its collection were either looted or damaged by Pakistani army and their collaborators. It is also not unlikely that some of the local elites has participated actively the destruction processes in the subsequent period after liberation.
The information regarding the history of this only community based museum in Bangladesh have been obtained from the book entitling Dinajpur Museum (in Bangla) by A. K. M. Zakaria. It should also be noted that there are some controversies regarding the information. Another book in the same name was written by Mr. Mehrab Ali has different version of history making. However, through several interviews with the local people and other knowledgeable persons, it was found that Mr. Zakaria is correct on some respects of information. The book by Zakaria is the first one to represent a reliable catalogue of the collections of the museum.
This small community based museum now is confined to one single room, which was built during the tenure of Museum Committee, 1983-1986 with the financial assistance from NORAD. Now this museum is a part of a two-storied building lying by the side of Khaza Nazimudding Muslim Hall and Library.
This project funded by UNESCO, Dhaka office aims at systematic and scientific cataloguing of the objects in Dinajpur museum. For the first time in Bangladesh, the backbone of the cataloguing framework was digitalizing techniques.
This entire area, falling within the old geograpic category Varendri or Varendra, has been the location of past human activities since at least 4th- 5th century ACE. Archaeological surveys conducted from various methodological approches since 18th century have revealed archaeological records of different natures and patterns. Archaeological records like structural and non-structural mounds, old ponds and wells, garbege pits, discarded heaps of pottery, metal working areas and slag deposits are some of the categories of records which have been recognized and recorded by different archaeological enterprises. Hundreds of sculptures and stone made architectural components, coins along with small objects of innumerable varieties have been reported to be found from this area. Importance of the area with the archaeological records and artifacts is immense as they may be a valyable and reliable source of interpreting the post-5th century history of human activity patterns with changes and continuity.
However, the location of the area on and around the Bangladesh-India border has endangered the archaeological testimonies to an alarming extent. It is because of the fact that illicit trade of antiquities in the form of looting and smuggling of transportable artifacts have found a comparatively easy ground of prey in the area. Post partition migration and resettlement internal to the national boundary have had a profound effect on the past signatures in the area. The archaeological records protected in many localities by deciduous forest cover faced the destruction to a formidable rate first during the post-partition period because of migrants coming from the western part of divided Bengal on one hand and through the mass exodus of the population from Hindu, Santal and other ethnic minorities to the western side of the frontier. The coming which was much higher than migrating minorities made an impact on dynamics of population, cultivable land and settlements. The forest cover and the archaeological records were destroyed to increase the extent and proportion of cultivable land. At the same time, archaeological remains, predominantly Hindu-Buddhist in religious affiliation suddenly became unprotected and abandoned because of the migrations of minority population. They have fallen prey to the land grabbing local elites and smugglers at the same time. The post-60s phenomenon of internal migrations has affected these conditions of destruction to the greatest extent.
Under these circumstances of destruction, looting and smuggling of artifacts, Dinajpur Museum was established in the town of Dinajpur by evidently communetarian and local initiatives. There was no local repository of archaeological and historical materials in this very important yet gradually obliterating juncture of past for over a long time. It was through the dynamic and committed effort of a group of people from this small town under the leadership of A. K. M. Zakaria, then the District Commissioner, Dinajpur Museum was established in 1968 in a corrugated tin shed building close to the well known Khaza Nazimuddin Muslim Hall and Library at the centre of the town.
The collections of the museum have been gathered primarily through the surveys and explorations of Mr. Zakaria and his companion Mr. Mehrab Ali and Mr. Daud in different part of the northern region. Mr. Mehrab Ali, who acted as the first honorary curator of the museum, and Mr. Mokarram Hossen are another two personalities acted very significantly in the establishment and development of this small museum.
The other persons who played an important role in the establishment of the musem are: Mr. Moin Udding Chowdhury, Mr. Yusuf Ali, Mr. Mahmood Mokarram Hossen, Mr. Rahim udding Ahmed, Mr. Shah Mahtabuddin, Mr. A. M. I. Z. Yusuf, Dr. Hafizuddin Ahmed, Mr. Md. Solaiman, Mr. M. A. Rahim. Mr. Khairul Anam, Dr. Samir Uddin Ahmed, Mr. Omar Ali, Mr. Shah Md. Yusuf, Dr. Aftab Uddin, Mr. Rizwanul Hoque Chowdhury, Mr. Chittaranjan Saha and Mr. Gopal Chandra Bhoumic.
According Zakaria (1989: 28), he and Mr. Mehrab Ali started to collect artifact in Dinajpur area in 1967. He refers to the fact that although the artifacts from this area were being displayed in vaourious museums aborad, at first they were not getting enough cultural materials and most of the srtifacts which they recovered were damaged. This statement of Zakaria testifies to the colonial and post-colonial looting and destruction of archaeological materials from this area. The first object, which was collected, according to Zakaria (Ibid.) was a decorated stone piece from Baigram temple area in Hakimpur upazila.
An executive committee was formed with the District Commissioner as the chair in 1968 to manage the museum. It was also decided that the museum will be managed under the jurisdiction of Khaza Nazimuddin Muslim Hall and Library.
The museum participated in the excavation of Sitakot Vihara at Nawabganj thana jointly with the then Directorate of Archaeology of East Pakisthan. Most of the artifacts which was recovered during the excavation were stored and displayed in the museum.
The museum had a severely damaging impact during the Liberation War in 1971. Many of the artifacts from its collection were either looted or damaged by Pakistani army and their collaborators. It is also not unlikely that some of the local elites has participated actively the destruction processes in the subsequent period after liberation.
The information regarding the history of this only community based museum in Bangladesh have been obtained from the book entitling Dinajpur Museum (in Bangla) by A. K. M. Zakaria. It should also be noted that there are some controversies regarding the information. Another book in the same name was written by Mr. Mehrab Ali has different version of history making. However, through several interviews with the local people and other knowledgeable persons, it was found that Mr. Zakaria is correct on some respects of information. The book by Zakaria is the first one to represent a reliable catalogue of the collections of the museum.
This small community based museum now is confined to one single room, which was built during the tenure of Museum Committee, 1983-1986 with the financial assistance from NORAD. Now this museum is a part of a two-storied building lying by the side of Khaza Nazimudding Muslim Hall and Library.
This project funded by UNESCO, Dhaka office aims at systematic and scientific cataloguing of the objects in Dinajpur museum. For the first time in Bangladesh, the backbone of the cataloguing framework was digitalizing techniques.
