2006/05/11 Thursdayauthor: jummanet(n)
Chakma palace resurfaces; Protection of Kaptai Lake demanded
初出：2006.05.11
(Bangladesh observer, last page, 11 May)
The Royal Palace of Chakma dynasty resurfaced in the Kaptai Lake after its submersion nearly fifty years back. With this startling event, Chakma Raja Barrister Devasish Roy now demands due attention from the government for proper maintenance of the mansion.
"This ancient stately mansion not only contributed to the enrichment of the indigenous peoples heritage, but the archaeological value of this magnificent structure is also huge for Bangladesh" Roy told BD news.
"At least 54,000 acre of arable land went under water in the water in the year 1960 while implementing Kaptai hydroelectric project. Behind the placard of 'steps forward' about one lakh people were evicted and the Royal mansion went under water at the winking of an eye".
This summer, the surface level of Kaptai Lake drastically went down and the palace became visible.
"----With this grand mansion the 13 tiny ethnic groups have close ties -----all branches of hilly culture the folklores, songs or rhymes and fairy tales have the echo of this palace."
Curious bands of people have encircled the site, both Bengalee and hilly people. However, amid such crowd, the opportunist quarter is trying to loot the archaeological remains.
Expressing concern over the pilferage of the remains, Raja Devasish Roy said ' I was informed that the asset is now under threat, stringent security measures have to be taken right now".
The Raja passionately commemorates the incident 'I was a toddler at that time----but my father the -----Raja Tridiv Roy recorded the incident with his 8 mm camera. I watched the event later, again and again'.
" I heard from my ancestors, and browsed through historical documents and learnt how the project uprooted lakhs of people. Many of them migrated to Arunachal, Mijoram and Tripura in India. Even our Bengalee neighbors were displaced."
Kaptai hydroelectric project was regarded to be a scale of progress, in fact the project turned the overall political, historical and economic and event geographical set-up upside down.
Prior to the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord on December 2 of 1997, the indigenous peoples faced frequent eviction. They were engrossed in misery.
According to the survey of 1798, the palace was situated at Rajanagar, of Rangunia in Chittagong. The remains of that splendid stately mansion and the farmhouse are still there. Raja Bhuban Mohan Roy constructed this palace at the beginning of the nineteenth century and created amazement among people for its architectural design.
The Royal Palace of Chakma dynasty resurfaced in the Kaptai Lake after its submersion nearly fifty years back. With this startling event, Chakma Raja Barrister Devasish Roy now demands due attention from the government for proper maintenance of the mansion.
"This ancient stately mansion not only contributed to the enrichment of the indigenous peoples heritage, but the archaeological value of this magnificent structure is also huge for Bangladesh" Roy told BD news.
"At least 54,000 acre of arable land went under water in the water in the year 1960 while implementing Kaptai hydroelectric project. Behind the placard of 'steps forward' about one lakh people were evicted and the Royal mansion went under water at the winking of an eye".
This summer, the surface level of Kaptai Lake drastically went down and the palace became visible.
"----With this grand mansion the 13 tiny ethnic groups have close ties -----all branches of hilly culture the folklores, songs or rhymes and fairy tales have the echo of this palace."
Curious bands of people have encircled the site, both Bengalee and hilly people. However, amid such crowd, the opportunist quarter is trying to loot the archaeological remains.
Expressing concern over the pilferage of the remains, Raja Devasish Roy said ' I was informed that the asset is now under threat, stringent security measures have to be taken right now".
The Raja passionately commemorates the incident 'I was a toddler at that time----but my father the -----Raja Tridiv Roy recorded the incident with his 8 mm camera. I watched the event later, again and again'.
" I heard from my ancestors, and browsed through historical documents and learnt how the project uprooted lakhs of people. Many of them migrated to Arunachal, Mijoram and Tripura in India. Even our Bengalee neighbors were displaced."
Kaptai hydroelectric project was regarded to be a scale of progress, in fact the project turned the overall political, historical and economic and event geographical set-up upside down.
Prior to the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord on December 2 of 1997, the indigenous peoples faced frequent eviction. They were engrossed in misery.
According to the survey of 1798, the palace was situated at Rajanagar, of Rangunia in Chittagong. The remains of that splendid stately mansion and the farmhouse are still there. Raja Bhuban Mohan Roy constructed this palace at the beginning of the nineteenth century and created amazement among people for its architectural design.
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