Final Report UTLP_30062021

UPDATING THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE TENTATIVE LIST OF BANGLADESH Contract Number: 4500411414-A4 REPORT ON UPDATING THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE TENTATIVE LIST OF BANGLADESH: A PROJECT JOINTY IMPLEMENTED BY UNESCO INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH Report Compiled By Heritage Cell Department of Archaeology Pratnatattva Bhaban F-4/A, Agargaon Administrative Area Shere Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 [email protected] www.archaeology.gov.bd Report Submission Date: June 2021 Copyright Department of Archaeology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Editorial Team Heritage Cell, Department of Archaeology UNESCO Dhaka Office Cover Design Md Khairul Bashar Swapan, Department of Archaeology Md Amiruzzaman, Department of Archaeology Cover Photos Front Cover © DoA (Clockwise from top Left) Aerial view of Mahasthangarh rampart wall, Govind Vita, visitor facility and Karotoya River Aerial view of Bharat Bhayna Buddhist Temple, Jashore Aerial view of Lalbagh Fort, Dhaka Aerial view of Shalban Vihara, Cumilla Back Cover© Cemal Emden, 2018 (Provided by Institute of Architects Bangladesh) National Assembly Complex of Bangladesh Report Graphics Design Md Khairul Bashar Swapan, Department of Archaeology I

PROJECT PERSONNEL DoA Officials Monitoring Committee from MoCA Shabiha Pervin Md. Hannan Mia Additional Secretary (Cultural Heritage) Grade-1 [email protected] (Former Director General of DoA) Md. Fahimul Islam Md. Ataur Rahman Joint Secretary Joint Secretary [email protected] Director General (Additional Charge) [email protected] Md. Ataur Rahman Md Amiruzzaman Joint Secretary (Archeology and Museum Branch) [email protected] Deputy Director (Antiquity & Protection) [email protected] Expert from UNESCO Dr. Sharif Shams Imon Khandokar Mahfuz Alam Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator Assistant Architect Heritage and Tourism Programmes [email protected] Institute for Tourism Studies Colina de Mong-Há, Macao Md Khairul Bashar Swapan [email protected] Field Officer . [email protected] Expert from DoA UNESCO Dhaka Office Dr. Swadhin Sen Beatrice Kaldun Professor Department of Archaeology Head of Office and Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh [email protected] [email protected] II Kizzy Tahnin Programme Officer [email protected] Eunbin Lim Former Associate Programme Specialist Weidu Su Associate Programme Specialist [email protected] DoA Support Staffs Mohammad Faisal Office Assistant Md Tofazzal Hossain Stenotypist Sadek Mridha Cash Sarkar Md Ismail Khan Support Staff Md Habibur Rahman Support Staff

MESSAGE 29 Ashar 1428 13 July 2021 I extend my heartiest gratitude to the Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs for the initiative of updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh. Bangladesh adopted the fundamental principles of state policy in the Constitution's Article no. 18 (a) and 23 to preserve and safeguard the natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forests, and wild life for future citizens as well as conserve the cultural traditions and heritage of the people under the visionary leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1972. Bangladesh became a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 27 October 1972 under the same leadership. Since then, Bangladesh has been playing an active role in safeguarding cultural and natural heritage. Two cultural sites and one natural site of Bangladesh have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Our Government, during 1996-2001 tenure, had prepared a World Heritage Tentative List in 1999. The South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project (SATIDP), Bangladesh portion, was implemented by the Department of Archaeology from 2010 to 2016. Basic conservation works on existing archaeological remains using advanced methods and techniques, capacity building, development of museum display, landscaping, and development of visitor facilities were executed in World Heritage Sites of Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat and Ruins of Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur, Kantajee Temple, and Mahasthangarh through the project. Climate change imposes an immense risk to cultural heritage around the world where Bangladesh is also facing the same. These climate change impacts lead to the deterioration of tangible cultural heritage. To overcome the challenge, the Department of Archaeology with the help of the UNESCO Dhaka Office and UNDP is preparing a concept note on Enhancing Climate Resilience to Heritage Sites in the Coastal Region of Bangladesh. Department of Archaeology has also taken initiative to prepare the National Conservation Strategy and Policy for Archaeological Heritage of Bangladesh. These initiatives may ensure the implementation of Article 23 of the Constitution of Bangladesh and help to achieve the target 11.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I am happy to know that, the Department of Archaeology has prepared a total of 8 proposals for the updated Tentative List through Updating the UNESCO Tentative List of the Bangladesh project. I would like to thank UNESCO to provide International Assistance for this tremendous work. My best wishes to all concerned including the experts, researchers, and stakeholders who made this work possible. Joi Bangla. Joi Bangabandhu. May Bangladesh Live Forever. Sheikh Hasina III

Minister of State Ministry of Cultural Affairs Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh MESSAGE It is my immense pleasure to know about updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh which was jointly funded by UNESCO and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Updating the Tentative List involves justification of Outstanding Universal Values (OUV) of a site, authenticity, integrity and comparative analysis through research highlighting the exceptional features which is a time-consuming and research-intensive task. But we had done it very well. Thanks to the officials from the Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and researchers from different universities. I hope that this type of participation will develop skilled manpower and researchers which will enable us to participate and stay updated on all World Heritage related activities. Preservation of heritage (national culture, national monuments, etc.) has been mentioned in our constitution. In section 23 of the constitution of Bangladesh, it is stated that- \"The State shall adopt measures to conserve the cultural traditions and heritage of the people, and so to foster and improve the national language, literature and the arts that all sections of the people are afforded the opportunity to contribute towards and to participate in the enrichment of the national culture\". In section 24 of the constitution of Bangladesh, it is also stated that- \"The State shall adopt measures for the protection against disfigurement, damage or removal of all monuments, objects or places of special artistic or historic importance or interest\". The present government has been trying its best to implement it since it came into position. One natural and two cultural sites have already been inscribed as World Heritage from Bangladesh. We are trying to include some more sites in this list. The updated Tentative List of 8 sites is the initial part of that process. I express my sincere thanks and gratitude to those who have worked relentlessly to update the 'Tentative List' amid this COVID-19 pandemic situation. Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu. Long Live Bangladesh. KM Khalid MP Minister of State Ministry of Cultural Affairs IV

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Secretary Ministry of Cultural Affairs Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh MESSAGE It gives me immense pleasure knowing that 8 (eight) sites are being added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. At the very outset, I would like to thank UNESCO for updating the Tentative List of Bangladesh. The history, tradition and culture of Bangladesh are thousands of years old. Ministry of Cultural Affairs is working to preserve the millennia-old history, culture, heritage and culture of the country and to promote it locally and globally. The process of updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh started after getting an International Assistance Fund from UNESCO. The program started in January 2020. Open proposals were invited from the stakeholders for the purpose of updating the tentative list. The Department of Archeology received a number of proposals from which it made a short list in consultation and analysis with experts. A lot of work was done amid the pandemic situation. During the Corona pandemic, The Department of Archeology organizes webinars with renowned local and foreign researchers, field work, mapping, documentation, data collection etc. I would like to congratulate and thank The Department of Archeology for their brilliant efforts. The updated Tentative List of Bangladesh contains 8 titles- Archaeological Sites on the Deltaic Landscape of Bangladesh, Mughal Mosques in Bangladesh, Cultural Landscape of Mahasthan and Karatoya River, Archaeological sites of Lalmai-Mainamati, National Assembly Complex of Bangladesh, The Architectural Work of Muzharul Islam: an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement in South Asia, Mughal forts on fluvial terrains in Dhaka and Mughal and Colonial Temples of Bangladesh. Let me take the opportunity to express my heartfelt felicitation and gratitude to those who have succeeded in such a difficult endeavour. My fervent expectation is that all the hard work remains steadfast towards its goal and purpose. Md Abul Monsur Secretary Ministry of Cultural Affairs VI

Additional Secretary Chairperson of the Monitoring Committee Ministry of Cultural Affairs Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh MESSAGE Archaeological sites of a country are the symbol of its history and they denote the richness of the culture of that nation. So, identification, excavation, preservation, restoration and management of archaeological sites are very important for a country in respect of enhancement of cultural heritage. Updating the tentative list after 20 years is a great initiative, which has been taken by the Department of Archaeology (DoA) with the help of UNESCO. On this very special occasion, at first, I would like to congratulate the Department of Archaeology for the successful completion of ‘Updating the Tentative List of Bangladesh Project’. As the project was very important for Bangladesh, I convey my special thanks to UNESCO for their timely support. As the chairperson of the monitoring committee, I have been closely involved with the project activities from the very beginning. This type of work is really praiseworthy which requires specialized knowledge. The total project activity had gone through the COVID-19 pandemic situation. There were several modifications due to the pandemic situation. But by the grace of Almighty, the project is a great success. I appreciate all the hard work put up by the concerned persons. I, on behalf of the monitoring committee, would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to all the researchers, faculty members, focal points, public representatives and all the organizations who helped us throughout the time. All the important opinions and valuable comments from the stakeholders give us a new way to think and make the Tentative List near ready for the World Heritage Nomination. From start to end, DoA and UNESCO Dhaka office showed great teamwork for this project. It was a really nice experience working with the team. I extend my best wishes and thanks to the Heritage Cell team of DoA. At the same time, I expect that they will utilize their experience and knowledge gathered through the implementation of this project for future assignments to come. I wish the best of luck to DoA and once again render my heartfelt thanks to UNESCO for their immense support. I look forward to working with this team once again in near future. Shabiha Pervin Additional Secretary Ministry of Cultural Affairs VII

PREFACE Bangladesh has a versatile, rich and dynamic cultural history. This country evolved through a very interchanging cultural diversification. Cultural remains can be found all over the country which bears the testimony of its rich history. The cultural heritage of the country is the consequence of century-old social, political and economic activities. Civilization and humanity are developed mainly through the practice of cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is the treasure trove of memories, aesthetics, legacy documents and also the carrier of intelligent consciousness and society. The Ministry of Culture and UNESCO work on all these issues of safeguarding the cultural heritage. The Department of Archaeology (DoA) under the Ministry of Culture Affairs (MoCA) is working to reconstruct, research and preserve these cultural heritages. Bangladesh has already two cultural sites inscribed as World Heritage Sites. One is the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur and the Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat. Updating the Tentative List of a country is the initial stage of inscribing new sites to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. DoA had taken the initiative to update the Tentative List of Bangladesh with the help of the UNESCO Dhaka Office. This project was started in January 2020 after the agreement with UNESCO Dhaka Office for the UNESCO International Assistance Fund. Stakeholders were invited to submit proposals at the outset to update the tentative list. The DoA received a number of proposals from which it made a short list after consulting and analysing with experts. During the lockdown in the Corona epidemic, it was very difficult to organize webinars with renowned local and foreign researchers, field work, mapping, documentation, management and data collection. The majority of the project work has been done amid the pandemic situation. This report reflects the total work done under the project. This report is submitted as a fulfilment of sub-clause 14.3 of clause 1.4 in Article I of the Implementation Partner Agreement. Comments about the draft report can be found in section 2.8, comparative analysis for each site on the Tentative List in section 2.10, on-site data in section 2.11 and implementation of the World Heritage Convention and implication of the properties on the World Heritage List can be found in section 2.12. Through the implementation of the project, officials from the DoA and researchers from Bangladesh have learnt a lot of new things which will help to implement the World Heritage Convention in Bangladesh in future. Md Ataur Rahman Joint Secretary Director General (Additional Charge) Department of Archaeology VIII

TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Personnel II Message from the Hon'ble Prime Minister III Message from the Hon'ble State Minister of MoCA IV Message from the Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh V Message from the Secretary of Ministry of Cultural Affairs VI Message from the Chairperson of monitoring committee from MoCA VII Preface VIII Table of Contents IX List of Abbreviations XI 1. Background 02 04 1.1 Justification of the Project 05 1.2 Objectives of the Project 06 1.3 Aim of the Project 06 1.4 Expected Output of the Project 07 1.5 Target Audiences of the Project 08 1.6 Agreement Signing Between UNESCO Dhaka Office & DoA 1.7 Project Coordinators 10 11 2. Activities and Findings 11 2.1 Engagement of Experts 11 14 2.2 Project work plan 20 2.3 Review of thematic studies by Advisory Bodies under the World Heritage Committee’s 20 21 Global Strategy 21 2.4 Analysis of the existing Tentative List of Bangladesh 22 23 2.5 Research on potential Tentative List heritage sites in Bangladesh 45 2.6 Consultative meetings with Advisory Bodies’ experts to explore the possibilities of Transboundary Nominations 2.7 Submission of a Draft Report on the findings to UNESCO Dhaka Office 2.8 Consultations with Advisory Bodies’ experts and comments from UNESCO 2.9 Revision and updating of the preliminary list of potential World Heritage Sites in Bangladesh to develop a draft Tentative List 2.10 Comparative analysis of sites on the draft Tentative List 2.11 Site visits for on-site data and further analyse of the sites on the draft Tentative List 2.12 Stakeholder consultations and awareness-raising regarding the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the implications of inscription of the properties on the World Heritage List 2.13 Elaboration of the draft Tentative List using the Tentative List Submission Format 51 IX

2.14 Finalising the Tentative List and Sharing Seminar 51 3. Proposed Sites for Updated Tentative List of Bangladesh Archaeological Sites on the Deltaic Landscape of Bangladesh 55 Mughal Mosques in Bangladesh 70 Cultural Landscape of Mahasthan and Karatoya River 77 Archaeological sites of Lalmai-Mainamati 88 National Assembly Complex of Bangladesh 95 The Architectural Work of Muzharul Islam: an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern 99 Movement in South Asia Mughal forts on fluvial terrains in Dhaka 104 Mughal and Colonial Temples of Bangladesh 116 4. Concluding Remarks 125 Annexures Annexure 01: Detailed Work Plan 129 Annexure 02: Review of Thematic Studies Carried Out by Advisory Bodies 130 Annexure 03: Focal Points for the Project 136 Annexure 04: Proposals Submitted by Stakeholders 137 Annexure 05: Thematic Presentation Summary of Updating the Tentative List of Bangladesh 140 Annexure 06: Minutes of the presentations and comments from the experts 142 Annexure 07: Official letter for sending the draft findings to the UNESCO 218 Annexure 08: Conscent letters from different organizations 219 Annexure 09: Published news on starting the process of the Updating the Tentative List of 233 Bangladesh Annexure 10: Published News on Stakeholders Meetings 236 Annexure 11: Published news on final sharing seminar of Updating the Tentative List of 241 Bangladesh X

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AD Anno Domini AFD Armed Forces Division B.Arch Bachelor of Architecture BC Before Christ BCE Before Common Era BUET Bangladesh University of Engineering &Technology CE Common Era CM Centimetre DIU Daffodil International University DoA Department of Archaeology DTCA Dhaka Transport Co-ordination Authority GoB Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh IAB Institute of Architects Bangladesh ICOMOS International Council on Monuments and Sites IPA Implementation Partners Agreement MoCA Ministry of Cultural Affairs MoD Ministry of Defence MS Master of Science MSS Master of Social Science NAC National Assembly Complex OUV Outstanding Universal Value PgDip Postgraduate Diploma PhD Doctor of Philosophy UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization USD United States Dollar XI

CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND Aerial view of Gokul Medh, Bogura – © Md. Shahriar Omar Sadh Source: https://visitworldheritage.com/en/buddha Aerial view of sanctum and mandapa of Shiva temple Gokul Medh, Bogura – © Md. Shahriar Omar Sadh Source: https://visitworldheritage.com/en/buddha

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 1 Bangladesh became a State Party of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1983. The BACKGROUND Department of Archaeology (DoA), Bangladesh, under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (MoCA), has the mandate to preserve Bangladesh's rich cultural heritage and relentlessly works on every aspect of preserving Bangladesh's heritage sites. Currently, Bangladesh has two cultural World Heritage sites, namely the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (1985) and the Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat (1985), and one natural World Heritage site, The Sundarbans (1997). On 17 February 1999, the DoA prepared a Tentative List comprised of the following five titles: 1. Halud Vihara 2. Jaggadala Vihara 3. Lalbagh Fort 4. Mahansthangarh and its Environs 5. The Lalmai-Mainamati Group of Monuments The Tentative List has not been updated since then. Achieving further nominations requires revising the outdated Tentative List, therefore there is an urgent need to update and revise the Bangladesh Tentative List with the inclusion of other cultural properties of possible Outstanding Universal Value located within the territory of Bangladesh. Within the context of the Global Strategy for a more balanced and representative World Heritage List, it is also important to review with an analysis of the heritage sites inscribed on the Tentative List and identify potential new sites to include on the Tentative List on a regional, geographical and thematic basis. The DoA has taken such initiatives to update the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh. 1.1 Justification of the Project Bangladesh joined the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1983 and the Tentative List was prepared and submitted to the World Heritage Committee according to the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. Page 2

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 1 The Tentative List includes five (5) heritage properties under culture only, including Halud BACKGROUND Vihara, Jaggadala Vihara, the Lalmai-Mainamati Group of monuments, and Mahansthangarh and its Environs on the basis of cultural criteria related to Buddhism and Lalbagh Fort on the basis of cultural criteria of the Mughal period. Mahansthangarh and its Environs is under preparation for nomination. The current Bangladesh Tentative List does not completely meet the requirements of the present Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. This is because of new challenges and requirements for the nomination and inscription to the World Heritage List and the lack of knowledge and experience of national experts in the processes of nomination. The Bangladesh Tentative List should have been updated in line with paragraph 65 of the Operational Guidelines. The List has not been updated and re- submitted since February 1999. Within the context of the Global Strategy for a more balanced and representative World Heritage List, it is also important to review with an analysis of the heritage sites inscribed on the Tentative List and identify potential new sites to include on the Tentative List on a regional, geographical and thematic basis. Therefore it is urgently needed to update and revise the Bangladesh Tentative List with inclusion of other cultural properties of possible outstanding universal value located within the territory of Bangladesh. The project will help to promote and consolidate cooperation among institutions of national and local governments, local communities and citizens at large to understand the principles of the World Heritage Convention, and strengthen the recognition of assets as national and international values which will increase national citizens’ awareness of the safeguarding of the country’s cultural heritage and will promote its protection and promotion as factors of human and sustainable development. Page 3

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 1 1.2 Objectives of the Project BACKGROUND Bangladesh became a State Party to the World Heritage Convention in 1983 and last updated the Tentative List comprising five sites in 1999. At present, according to the updated Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, guidance by National ICOMOS and UNESCO Dhaka Office, Bangladesh is encouraged to re- examine and re-submit its Tentative List. The specific objectives of this project are to: • To analyse and re-examine the justification of the properties which were included in the existing Tentative List; • To assess the potential Outstanding Universal Value, authenticity and integrity of new properties for inclusion in the revised Tentative List; • To prepare a way that the result of this project is the updated the Tentative List of Bangladesh. • To carry out comparative analysis of the properties under consideration for inclusion in the Tentative List; • To describe the geographical location and coordinates as well as the tentative delineation of possible protective boundaries; • To document and update data concerning the state of conservation of the properties to improve conservation efforts; • To undertake national consultations and involvement practices with the different concerned stakeholders in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and related heritage policy actions • To raise awareness and improve knowledge of communities and authorities about the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and implications of inscription of the properties on the World Heritage List. Page 4

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 1 1.3 Aim of the Project BACKGROUND The aim of the project is to develop a specific proposal for an updated Tentative List of Bangladesh in consultation with national and international experts with the following objectives:  To determine that these heritage sites can meet the conditions and criteria of the justification of the Outstanding Universal Value, the assurance of authenticity and integrity as well as adequate conservation and protection measures;  To communicate with local administration, communities as well as other bodies related to the properties, to discuss about the cooperation on the preparation of further nomination dossier to the World Heritage List and the required work for conservation and appreciation of these properties;  To prepare documentation about the physical features of the properties and collect appropriate data and information about the context in order to make the description, assurances of authenticity and integrity and comparison with other similar properties at home and abroad;  To gather all possible information concerning the present state of conservation of the heritage properties and factors attesting them and ensure the future possibilities of the management plan. The target of the project was to promote and consolidate cooperation among institutions of national and local governments, local communities and citizens at large to understand the principles of the World Heritage Convention, and strengthen the recognition of assets as national and international values which will increase national citizens’ awareness of the safeguarding of the country’s cultural heritage and will encourage its protection and promotion as factors of human and sustainable development. Page 5

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 1 1.4 Expected Output of the Project BACKGROUND Expected Results Indicators Means of verification Technical advice and Exchanges and consultations Written reports guidance provided by the with the Advisory Body Advisory Body experts on experts the Tentative List process National consultation A national workshop to National workshop report. process undertaken with present, consolidate and Approved updated Tentative all stakeholders approve the updated List. Tentative List The updated finalized Elaboration of a Tentative Submission of the Tentative Tentative List consulted List List to the World Heritage nationally with all Centre. Acknowledgement of relevant stakeholders receipt of the World Heritage Centre. 1.5 Target Audiences of the Project • Department of Archaeology (DoA) officials under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh • Academicians from different universities • Researchers • NGOs • Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO • UNESCO Dhaka Office • ICOMOS Bangladesh • Local Government Agencies • Local communities • Heritage Experts Page 6

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 1 1.6 Agreement Signing Between UNESCO Dhaka Office & DoA BACKGROUND According to UNESCO's present Operational Guidelines, the Department of Archaeology is encouraged to re-examine and update the Tentative List of Bangladesh with UNESCO's help. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, GoB, and UNESCO have approved an International Assistance Fund. On 27 January 2020, the Director-General of the Department of Archaeology and Head of Office & UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Ms Beatrice Kaldun signed an Agreement regarding the fund. Agreement signing between the Director-General of Department of Archaeology and the Head of Office & UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh (27 January 2020) UNESCO & DoA Officials during agreement signing cereony (27 January 2020) Page 7

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 1 1.7 Project Coordinators BACKGROUND Page 8

CHAPTER 2 ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Aerial View of Bhasu Vihara at Shibganj Bogura – © Khairul Islam Source: https://visitworldheritage.com/en/buddha

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 For the last few months, the DoA has done several activities mentioned in the work plan. ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Through the proper guidance of the experts and other researchers, a series of meetings, seminars and stakeholder meetings have been conducted so far. Based on the activities and data collected on each site, a draft tentative list was also prepared. The activities are described below. 2.1 Engagement of Experts For this project, UNESCO engaged one expert and the DoA engaged one expert for this project. The DoA signed a contract with the expert on 27 January 2020. Page 10

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 2.2 Project work plan ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS A detailed project work plan was submitted to UNESCO for approval. The work plan can be found in Annexure-1. 2.3 Review of thematic studies by Advisory Bodies under the World Heritage Committee’s Global Strategy The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and its partner organisations have so far carried out 23 thematic studies for the World Heritage Convention since 1996. A review (Annexure-2) of the studies reveals that seven of those studies are related to Industrial Heritage, six on Rock Art, and the rest are related to other various themes. The review indicates the following potential thematic areas of focus for the development of a Tentative List for Bangladesh in the future: 1. Cultural landscapes of water in its functional associations with its tangible cultural environment. 2. Outcomes of the connections of places in Bangladesh with the Silk Route in the form of urban centres and settlements, religious, spiritual and ceremonial sites. 3. Sites linked to Industrial Heritage in the form of infrastructure, settlements, and landscapes. 4. Cultural landscapes. 2.4 Analysis of the existing Tentative List of Bangladesh The sites on the existing Tentative List are thoroughly analysed by both the DoA and experts. For the analysis, the following factors are taken into consideration:  Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) justification according to Operational Guidelines  The current state of the cultural property, i.e., ownership, current use, current heritage designation, etc.  In light of the ICOMOS Nara Document on Authenticity, how the property has maintained its authenticity Page 11

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2  Qualitative/quantitative assessment of how much of the original property exists ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS today and if the existing property contains/includes sufficient elements to convey the property’s OUV  How the property is being conserved and managed Upon analysing the existing tentative list sites based on the above factors, some issues should be considered during the updating process. Detailed findings on each site and recommendations of the analysis are given below: (i) Halud Vihara  According to the partial excavation drawing, Halud Vihara may not be a Buddhist monastery, and instead may be a temple.  It is difficult to justify the OUV out of this small and common architectural form.  As a single component, the authenticity and integrity of this property are weak. Recommendations: It should be included with Jagaddal Vihara and other structural mounds and monuments in the vicinity like the Aagra Digun Mound which was partially excavated, the Badal Pillar Inscription and adjoining structural mound, the Dhibar Pillar, and other sites under a specific theme emphasising the site complex on a particular river belt or landscape context for serial nominations. (ii) Jaggadala Vihara  Jaggadala Vihara is a partially excavated small Buddhist monastery.  In a national context, this monument carries enormous significance. However, its OUV needs to be justified in the international, regional, and South Asian context.  Currently, the Property is owned and managed by the DoA. Recommendations: It should be included with Halud Vihara and other structural mounds and monuments in the vicinity under a specific theme emphasising the site complex on a particular river belt or landscape context for serial nominations. Page 12

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 (iii) Lalbagh Fort ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS  In the history of Bangladesh and especially in the history of Dhaka as an urban centre, this fort exhibits very significant features and properties as a national heritage site.  As a single Mughal fort, the Lalbagh Fort does not meet any criteria for World Heritage inscription strongly.  The site is owned by the DoA and properly managed with regular maintenance. Recommendations: Lalbagh Fort as a nominated property should be combined with Idrakpur Fort, Sonakanda Fort, and Hajiganj Fort (better familiar as River or water forts) under a single theme. The proposed theme must consist of the historical, economic, and political contexts of the Mughal dominion in Bengal where the imperial Mughals had to adapt themselves to the fluvial terrain marked by numerous changing waterscapes and rivers. The Mughals had to transform their battle and defence strategies according to the requirements of the ecology of the Eastern part of undivided Bengal. (iv) Mahansthangarh and its Environs  Mahasthangarh and its Environs is one of the most important cultural properties which can be proposed for final nomination.  This site has a long history of archaeological and historical research, as such, there is plenty of data. Recommendations: This property can be modified and transformed into a more effective and unique one by taking the site's complex cultural landscape and the Karatoya River into strong consideration. (v) The Lalmai-Mainamati Group of monuments  The sites have the potential to be a world heritage site.  With the clusters of Buddhist monasteries and establishments, along with a long history of research, a considerable amount of data, and with the discovered cultural material, this site on the uplifted Lalmai Hills represents a unique complex of monumental as well as landscape context which provides strong justification for it to be enlisted as a World Heritage site. Page 13

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2  There are four sites inside the Cumilla Cantonment and two sites near the ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Cantonment.  Sites are well preserved and managed. Recommendations: This Tentative List proposal should be modified to emphasise this site as one of the most important centres of early Bengal, which inspired creativity, ideas, and influences throughout the regions of Southeast Asia. Consultation with the Armed Forced Division (AFD) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) is needed since some sites are within the Cumilla Cantonment area. 2.5 Research on potential Tentative List heritage sites in Bangladesh On 27 January 2020, the Department of Archaeology and ICOMOS Bangladesh jointly organised a seminar on UNESCO’s Tentative List updating process. Dr Sharif Shams Imon, President, International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Bangladesh & International Consultant guided the DoA with valuable presentations, with government officials, university teachers, NGO representatives, and members of the civil society present at the seminar. Afterwards, the Department of Archaeology urged all the stakeholders to submit proposals for updating the tentative list (Annexure-09). Seminar on UNESCO’s Tentative List updating process (27 January 2020) Page 14

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Formation of Focal points for collecting the data ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS The DoA operates in Bangladesh through four regional offices. To collect the necessary data for updating the Tentative List, the DoA formed focal points based on regional offices along with a group for the Head Office at Dhaka. Focal points consist of different employees of the DoA along with a group of researchers and faculty from different universities. A list of focal points can be found in Annexure-3. Formation of a Monitoring Committee for the project For the proper implementation of the project, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (MoCA) formed a project monitoring committee. The committed is comprised of an Additional Secretary and two Joint Secretaries. On 8 February 2020, the DoA organised a Meeting with the DoA’s expert and Regional Directors on focal points in the UNESCO Tentative List updating process. Dr Swadhin Sen, Professor, Department of Archaeology, Jahangirnager University & National Consultant also gave some instructions and guidelines. Meeting between DoA officials and DoA’s expert for this project Page 15

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 By this time, the DoA had received 61 proposals in response to the open public call, which ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS can be found in Annexure-4. Upon studying the proposals, the Department of Archaeology along with the International and National Consultants classified the proposals into several categories and themes. Out of the 61 proposals, 32 were incomplete, and 1 was irrelevant and incomplete. After initial analysis from the Department of Archaeology and consultants of this project, another 28 proposals were incorporated into 16 themes (Table 1). Table 01: Preliminary Themes Sl. No Theme 01. Archaeological Settlements on Littoral Landscapes of South-western part of 02. Bangladesh 03. Brick-built Mughal Mosques in Bangladesh Cultural Landscape of Mahasthan and Karatoya River [instead of Mahasthan and 04. its Environs] Landscape and monuments of interconnectivity at Lalmai-Mainamati Area 05. [instead of a group of monuments]. 06. National Assembly Complex, Bangladesh The Architectural Work of Muzharul Islam, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement in South Asia. 07. Mughal Water Forts of Bangladesh [instead of Lalbag Fort] 08. Cultural Landscape and Monuments of Medieval Capital Sonargaon to Panam city. 09. Late Mughal and Colonial Brick Temples of Bangladesh 10. The riverine walled settlement and monuments of Kantanagar 11. Buddhist monuments in the area around Jagadala Mahavihara 12. Monumental remains around Halud Vihara. 13. Mud Walled Settlements of Bangladesh [for serial nomination] 14. Mosque City of Gour 15. Barobazar Group of Monuments (The Ancient City of Muhammadabad) 16. Landscape and Monuments of Liberation War of Bangladesh in Dhaka city In light of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the DoA arranged a series of webinars and online presentations to gather data on the proposals. Different national and international panel members were present on the webinar and presentations and commented on each proposal. There were a total of four webinars and nine online presentations held for the Page 16

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 proposals. The summary of the presentations can be found in Annexure-5 and the minutes ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS of the presentations along with the comments from the experts can be found in Annexure-6. Webinar on Lalmai-Mainamati proposal Webinar on Cultural Landscape of Mahasthan proposal Based on the data received from the presentations, the DoA and experts evaluated each of the proposals. For this, a quantitative approach was taken to rank the proposals according to their merits. Each proposal was scored on each of the following criteria as per available data and documentation. The score for a single criterion is from 1 to 5 where 1 reflects very Page 17

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 poor and 5 means excellent on that criterion (Table 2). After each of the criteria for a ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS proposal is scored, an average score is calculated. Table 02: Sample scoring table for a proposal Sl. No Criteria Score 01. Potential for Justification (x3)** 02. Authenticity** 03. Integrity** 04. Comparative analysis 05. Owners' consent 06. Quality of documentation i) Mapping ii) Detailed drawings iii) Ownership iv) Historical development 07. Potential for developing a full nomination in the next 5 years Score: 5- Excellent, 4- Good, 3- Average, 2- Poor, 1- Very poor **If below 3, discard or repackage The DoA and the experts independently scored the proposals. After getting all three scores for each proposal, the final score is calculated by averaging the three scores. Based on the average scores, the proposals were divided into three categories: 1. Proposals ready for inclusion in the Tentative List 2. Proposals that have high potential but need adjustment/repackaging before inclusion 3. Proposals that are not eligible for Tentative List inclusion in their current state Table 3 shows the average scores along with individual scores from the DoA and two experts for each proposal. Page 18

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Table 03: Evaluation of the proposals ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Sl. Common theme DoA Dr Dr Average Recommendation no Imon Sen 1 Archaeological Settlements on 3.0 2.6 4.2 3.2 Strengthen/Repackage Littoral Landscapes of Southwestern part of Bangladesh 2 Brick-built Mughal Mosques in 3.5 2.4 4.2 3.4 Strengthen/Repackage Bangladesh 4.1 Include 4.2 Include 3 Cultural Landscape of 4.1 3.9 4.2 3.5 Strengthen/Repackage Mahasthan and Karatoya River 4 Landscape and monuments of 4.4 3.5 4.7 interconnectivity at Lalmai- Mainamati Area 5 Mughal Water Forts of 3.5 3.0 4.1 Bangladesh 6 Buddhist monuments in the 3.1 1.8 2.1 2.3 Discard area around Jagadala Mahavihara 1.9 Discard 2.7 Discard 7 Monumental remains around 3.1 1.5 1.3 2.7 Discard Halud Vihara. 2.7 Discard 8 Mosque City of Gour 2.5 2.4 3.1 3.8 Strengthen/Repackage 9 Barobazar Group of 2.4 2.6 3.0 4.1 Include Monuments (The Ancient City 4.0 Include of Muhammadabad) 10 Cultural Landscape and 3.8 2.7 1.7 Monuments of Medieval Capital Sonargaon to Panam city 11 Late Mughal and Colonial Brick 3.9 3.3 4.1 Temples of Bangladesh 12 National Assembly Complex, 4.4 3.7 4.2 Bangladesh 13 The Architectural Work of 4.1 3.9 4.1 Muzharul Islam, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement in South Asia Page 19

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 2.6 Consultative meetings with Advisory Bodies’ experts to explore the ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS possibilities of Transboundary Nominations The preliminarily selected proposals did not meet the criteria of receiving a transboundary nomination, so no consultative meeting was done in this regard. 2.7 Submission of a Draft Report on the findings to UNESCO Dhaka Office A draft report was prepared and sent to UNESCO Dhaka Office on 15 November 2020 for its review (Annexure-7). According to the score from the evaluation and Outstanding Universal Values (OUV), Authenticity, Integrity, Management system, and thematic analysis, the DoA along with the International and National Consultants primarily selected 11 proposals (Table 4) out of 16 preliminary themes (Table 1). Table 04: Preliminary List of Potential Proposals Sl. Name of the preliminarily selected properties No 1. Archaeological Settlements on Littoral Landscapes of Southwestern part of Bangladesh 2. Brick-built Mughal Mosques in Bangladesh 3. Cultural Landscape of Mahasthan and Karatoya River [instead of Mahasthan and its Environs] 4. Archaeological sites and landscape of Lalmai-Mainamati [instead of a group of monuments 5. National Assembly Complex, Bangladesh 6. The Architectural Work of Muzharul Islam, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement in South Asia. 7. Mughal Forts of Dhaka: Adaptive style of Mughal forts on fluvial terrain [instead of Lalbag Fort] (Serial properties: Hajiganj Fort, Sonakanda Fort, Idrakpur Fort, Lalbagh Fort) 8. Mughal and Colonial Brick Temples of Bangladesh 9. Central Shaheed Minar– the Martyr Monument of Language Movement in Dhaka 10. The historic city of Panam 11. Dhibor Pillar and Archaeological sites and landscape of Jagaddal, Halud Bhihara, and its surroundings Page 20

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 2.8 Consultations with Advisory Bodies’ experts and comments from ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS UNESCO Consultations with local and international Advisory Body experts were carried out at key stages of the project. Multiple ICOMOS experts were invited to the thematic presentations and discussion sessions following the presentations. The experts shared their expert comments and advice on the various Tentative List proposals presented (refer to Annexure 6 for the comments). Additional comments were sought from ICOMOS ISC experts on the various Tentative List proposals included in the Draft Report. Due to time constraints and pandemic situation, limited comments on the proposal on Mughal forts and the three proposals related to the 20th Century Heritage were received. The comments emphasised more in-depth comparative analysis and, in the case of the National Assembly Building, suggested exploring the potential of a transnational nomination as the architectural works of Louis Kahn. UNESCO appointed international expert Dr. Sharif Shams Imon also commented on the draft list on behalf of UNESCO. The comments can be found in Annexure-6 for each proposal. All comments were considered in the following project steps. 2.9 Revision and updating of the preliminary list of potential World Heritage Sites in Bangladesh to develop a draft Tentative List The DoA conducted regular online meetings with experts regarding selecting the proposals, evaluating them based on authenticity, integrity, and OUV. Each of the sites in the draft Tentative List is thoroughly scrutinized for its potential to be a future World Heritage site. Meeting dates (Table 5) are as follows: Table 05: Meetings with experts Sl. No Date Sl. No Date 01. 21 June 2020 11. 20 October 2020 02. 2 July 2020 12. 21 October 2020 03. 4 July 2020 13. 24 October 2020 04. 5 July 2020 14. 28 October 2020 05. 15 July 2020 15. 3 November 2020 Page 21

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 06. 19 July 2020 16. 17 November 2020 ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS 07. 23 July 2020 17. 5 December 2020 08. 7 August 2020 18. 11 January 2021 09. 29 August 2020 19. 11 February 2021 10. 12 September 2020 20. 12 February 2021 After a series of revisions, the DoA and the experts developed a draft Tentative List. The draft Tentative List contains 10 proposals out of the 11 in the preliminary list of potential World Heritage sites. The list is as follows: Table 06: Draft Tentative List Sl. No Name of the properties 1. Archaeological Settlements on Littoral Landscapes of Southwestern part of Bangladesh 2. Brick-built Mughal Mosques in Bangladesh 3. Cultural Landscape of Mahasthan and Karatoya River [instead of Mahasthan and its Environs] 4. Archaeological sites and landscape of Lalmai-Mainamati [instead of a group of monuments 5. National Assembly Complex, Bangladesh 6. The Architectural Work of Muzharul Islam, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement in South Asia. 7. Mughal Forts of Dhaka: Adaptive style of Mughal forts on fluvial terrain [instead of Lalbag Fort] (Serial properties: Hajiganj Fort, Sonakanda Fort, Idrakpur Fort, Lalbagh Fort) 8. Mughal and Colonial Brick Temples of Bangladesh 9. Central Shaheed Minar– the Martyr Monument of Language Movement in Dhaka 10. The historic city of Panam 2.10 Comparative analysis of sites on the prepared Tentative List Comparative analysis of each proposal was processed through the webinars (please refer to section 2.5) after analysisng the OUV, authenticity and integrity. The panel members, experts, researchers and focal points were participated in a group discussion to finalise the comparative analysis. Comparative analysis for each site on the draft Tentative List was Page 22

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 done and included in the Tentative List submission format which can be found in the next ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS chapter (chapter 3). 2.11 Site visits for on-site data and further analyse of the sites on the draft Tentative List After the seminars and preliminary evaluation, it was necessary to conduct some field visits to gather more on-site data of the properties listed in the draft Tentative List. The DoA arranged several field visits for DoA head office officials, focal points, and researchers. A total of 15 field visits were done by focal points & researchers and 4 field visits were done by DoA head office officials. Field visits Inauguration of field visit using drone for aerial photography- © DoA Page 23

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Field visit at Lalmai-Mainamati Region- © DoA Drone deployment on field- © DoA Page 24

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Aerial Photography ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS To better understand the heritage property and identify the property zone and buffer zone aerial photography was done using a Mavic Air 2 quadcopter (drone). Here are some of the aerial photos. Aerial view of Bharat Bhayna, Jashore- © DoA Aerial photo of Northern part of the Mahasthangarh rampart wall along with Govind Vita temple and Karotoya River- © DoA Page 25

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Aerial view of Jaggaddala Vihara, Naogaon- © DoA ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Aerial view of Agradigun mound, Naogaon- © DoA Page 26

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Aerial view of Halud Vihara, Naogaon- © DoA ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Aerial view of Dalijhara Buddhist Bihara, Keshabpur, Jashore- © DoA Page 27

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Aerial view of Latikot Mura, Cumilla- © DoA Aerial view of Lalbagh Fort- © DoA Page 28

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Maps, drawings & layouts ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS To understand the heritage property, management of the property and identify the different aspect of the property it was necessary to prepare some maps, drawings and layouts. For the better visualisation of the heritage property in context with geographical location and identification of the Property zone & buffer zone mapping was very necessary for the project. To produce the maps and other drawings focal points and researchers collect filed level raw data. Location map of sites in and around Mahasthangarh Prepared by Abu Said Inam Tanvirul, Custodian, DoA Page 29

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Elevation map of sites in Mahasthan Citadel Area ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Prepared by Abu Said Inam Tanvirul, Custodian, DoA Page 30

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Property zone and buffer zone plan of Mahansthangarh ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Prepared by Md. Afzal Hossain Mondal, Senior Draftsman, DoA Page 31

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Elevation map of sites at Lalmai-Mainamati Area ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Prepared by Md. Shahin Alam, Field Officer, DoA Page 32

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Property zone and buffer zone plan of Shalban Vihara ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Prepared by Md. Shahin Alam, Field Officer, DoA Page 33

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Property zone and buffer zone plan of National Assembly Complex of Bangladesh ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Prepared by IAB Page 34

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Location map of Mughal and colonial temples of Bangladesh ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Prepared by Md. Shahin Alam, Field Officer, DoA Page 35

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Ground plan of Bharat Bhayna, Jashore ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Prepared by DoA Page 36

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 Ground plan of Jhurijhara Mound, Jashore ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Prepared by DoA Page 37

Final Report on Updating the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List of Bangladesh CHAPTER 2 ACTIVITIES & FINDINGS Front elevation and ornamentation of Masjidkur Mosque Prepared by DoA Ground plan of Mirzanagar Hammamkhana Prepared by DoA Page 38