Department of Archaeology ( bn, বাংলাদেশ প্রত্নতত্ত্ব অধিদপ্তর, ) is one of the government agency of

Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...

. By the ''Laws of Archaeology 1964'' (amended in 1976) this agency maintains the conservation and preservation of archaeological sites in the country. Since 2013, the department has been running its activities from the Administration Building situated in Agargaon in Dhaka.

History

The organization was first founded in 1861 as a part of the

Archaeological Survey of India The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexande ...

. After the independence of Bangladesh its office was established in Dhaka.
Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh
', Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Retrieved 29 June 2013. In 1983 regional offices were established in the then 4 divisions including Dhaka as the headquarter by divisional rearrangement.

Agency Functions

Department of Archaeology (Bangladesh) compiles and also conserves the list of archaeological sites and artifacts of Bangladesh. Currently (June 2016) there are 452 archaeological sites under the conservation of this department. Some of the mentionable among them are-

Mahasthangarh Mahasthangarh ( bn, মহাস্থানগড়, ''Môhasthangôṛ'') is one of the earliest urban archaeological sites so far discovered in Bangladesh. The village Mahasthan in Shibganj upazila of Bogra District contains the remain ...

Mainamati Moinamoti (''Môynamoti'') is an isolated low, dimpled range of hills, dotted with more than 50 ancient Buddhist settlements dating between the 8th and 12th century CE. It was part of the ancient Tripura division of Bengal. It extends through the ...

Somapura Mahavihara Somapura Mahavihara ( bn, সোমপুর মহাবিহার, Shompur Môhabihar) in Paharpur, Badalgachhi Upazila, Badalgachhi, Naogaon District, Naogaon, Bangladesh is among the best known Buddhist viharas or monasteries in the Indi ...

Shita Coat Bihar, Nawabganj Sitakot Vihara ( bn, সীতাকোট বিহার ''Sitakot Vihara'')is an archaeological site located in Nawabganj upazila in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh. The site is locally known as the residence of Sita. Through regular excavations ...

Kantajew Temple Kantanagar Temple, commonly known as Kantaji Temple or Kantajew Temple ( bn, কান্তজীর মন্দির) at Kantanagar, is a late-medieval Hindu temple in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The Kantajew Temple is a religious edifice belonging ...

Choto Sona Mosque Choto Shona Mosque ( bn, ছোট সোনা মসজিদ, ''Small Golden Mosque'') is located in Chapai Nawabganj district of Bangladesh. The mosque is situated about south of the Kotwali Gate and to the south-east of the Mughal Tahakhana ...

Sixty Dome Mosque The Sixty Dome Mosque ( ''Shaṭ Gombuj Moshjid''; more commonly known as ''Shait Gambuj Mosque'' or ''Saith Gunbad Masjid''), is a mosque in Bagerhat, Bangladesh. It is a part of the Mosque City of Bagerhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is t ...

Vasu Vihara Vasu Vihara or Vasu Bihar is one of the famous archaeological site in Bangladesh. Locally is popular by the name ''Narapatir Dhap''. It is one of the ancient Buddhist heritage of Bangladesh. Location It is situated in Shibganj Upazila of ...

, Barobazar,

Lalbagh Fort Lalbagh Fort ( bn, লালবাগ কেল্লা) is a fort in the old city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Its name is derived from its neighborhood Lalbagh, which means Red Garden. The term Lalbagh refers to reddish and pinkish architecture from ...

. Among these, Somapura Mahavihara and Sixty Dome Mosque have been recognized as

World Heritage Sites A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNES ...

. Also there are 17

Archaeology museums An archaeology museum is a museum that specializes in the display of archaeological Types Many archaeology museum are in the open air, such as the Ancient Agora of Athens and the Roman Forum. Others display artifacts inside buildings, such as N ...

under the administration of this department. The department works on to recover history by discovering ancient cultural elements from remote areas scattered within the country, and to repair and preserve the discovered monuments and exhibit them.

Museums

Currently there are 17 museums administered by Department of Archaeology. Dhaka Division: * Lalbagh Museum * Panam Nagar * Baliati Museum * Mymensingh Museum Rajshahi Division: * Paharpur Museum *

Bagha Museum Bagha Museum ( bn, বাঘা জাদুঘর) is a museum in the Bagha Upazila of Rajshahi District in Bangladesh. It was established in July 2012 and opened for public on 7 May 2015. History This museum is maintained by Department of ...

* Archaeological Museum, Mahasthan * Rabindra Kachharibari Museum * Patisar Museum * Chalan Beel Museum Rangpur Division: * Tajhat Palace Museum Khulna Division: * Khulna Divisional Museum * Bagerhat Museum * Shilaidaha Kuthibari Museum * M.M. Dutt Bari Museum * Rabindra Complex, Dakkhindihi Chittagong Division: * Mainamati Museum * Ethnological Museum, Chittagong Barisal Division: * Sher-e-Bangla Sriti Museum Time Schedule VISITING HOURS FOR MUSEUMS: 1st April to 30th September 1st October to 30th March Tuesday to Saturday Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 6 pm 9 am to 5 pm Leisure: 1 pm to 1.30 pm Leisure: 1 pm to 1.30 pm Friday Friday 10 am to 12.30 pm and 9 am to 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm to 6pm 2 pm to 5 pm Monday Monday 2.30 pm to 6 pm 1.30 pm to 5pm
List of PublicationHeritage Sell Department of Archaeology Videos

References

{{authority control Government agencies of Bangladesh Bangladesh, Archaeology, Department of Government departments of Bangladesh Organisations based in Dhaka 1972 establishments in Bangladesh Archaeology of Bangladesh