EAM Asaduzzaman, Nilphamari

The government’s archaeology department and the district police are at odds now over damage of historic ‘nilkuthi’ (house for indigo business) at Notkhana village, three kilometres from the district town.

The department in last year declared the 175-year-old brick building at Notkhana in Polashbari union of Nilphamari Sadar upazila as a proposed archaeological site but a few days ago, labourers engaged by police broke a part of it to collect bricks for constructing a sales centre.

“On December 24 morning, some labourers sent by the police started breaking the ‘nilkuthi’ although the department concerned declared it a proposed archaeological site a year ago and set a signboard to the effect,” said Mamtaj Ali Pramanik, chairman of Polashbari union parishad.

“Locals objected to the labourers’ work but a police team went there and the sub-inspector concerned said the bricks were being collected to make a sales centre of Women Police Welfare Association, as per directive from the authorities.

“Finally we persuaded police to stop the work but by this time, labourers damaged a portion of the structure’s roof, separating around 250 bricks,” he added.

According to ‘Nilphamarir Itihas’ (History of Nilphamari) published by Bangla Academy in July 2018, British traders established the ‘nilkuthi’ in 1845 as a centre for cultivation and business of indigo during the colonial era.

The traders also used a portion of it as a torture centre to punish the farmers who refused to cultivate indigo for low pay, mentions the book written by Jahangir Alam Sarker.

Local historian ATM Mozibar Rahman said, “We’re stunned to know that the district police sent men to collect bricks by destroying the 175-year-old historic structure to make a sales centre.”

“As per authorities’ directive, I on Thursday talked to the additional SP, who was then serving as acting SP, and requested making arrangement for repairing the ‘nilkuthi’ but yet to get satisfactory response,” said Sanjoy Kumar Roy, assistant custodian of Rangpur museum.

Contacted, the additional SP, Abul Bashar Mohammad Atiqur Rahman said, “We were unaware that the old building is a proposed archaeological site. The department concerned did not inform us officially although the land on which it is situated is owned by district police.”

“The matter is now a settled one as our workers instantly stopped removing bricks, which occurred as a result of misunderstanding,” he added.

Nahid Sultana, archaeological department’s regional director in Bogra, said, “We set a signboard beside the ‘nilkuthi’ a year ago, describing it as a proposed archaeological site but the notice disappeared later without our knowledge. We set another signboard there on Saturday.”

“Our officials visited the spot and after getting report we will send letter to the higher authorities of police to take step to repair the historic structure, maintaining its archaeological impact,” she added.