Editor's Pick

Muzharul Islam and his spaces of belonging

14 July 2026, 00:02 AM In Focus

Who protects women in Bangladesh's gig economy?

14 July 2026, 00:05 AM Unheard Voices

Dhaka: How a city was planned to drown

12 July 2026, 17:12 PM Big Picture

11 dead over the World Cup: The real problem is not football

13 July 2026, 11:00 AM Views

How Bangladesh should respond to China’s proposed corridor

12 July 2026, 00:00 AM Geopolitical Insights

<i>Enemies damaged Mahasthangarh ramparts with explosives!</i>

24 February 2009, 18:00 PM

NATIONAL

Staff Correspondent, Bogra

Part of the collapsed rampart at Mahasthangarh archaeological site. Following a recent excavation. French experts said explosion by enemies caused the collapse about 1300 years ago.Photo: STAR

The southern ramparts of Mahasthangarh archaeological site were damaged due to an 'explosion' in the seventh century, says a report by Bangladesh-France joint excavation team. “Probably enemies entered the city after damaging ramparts with explosives in 700 AD,” Dr Barbara Faticoni, a member of the team led by Director Dr Jean Francois Salles, recently told The Daily Star. The point in the ramparts that was damaged by the explosion was discovered during the ongoing excavation and it is still visible, Dr Barbara said. The recent discovery would change the history of Mahastangarh in Bogra, one of the most important archaeological sites in South Asia, said archaeologists of the excavation team. The excavation team members also found ornamentally decorated upper portion of a 'Surya' image on February 10. Other things of attraction including engraved crown of the broken image was also found that time. The black stone-made broken image was built sometime during the 10th or 11th century, said archaeologist Naheed Sultana, a member of the Bangladesh team. Some important artefacts including potsherd of different period have been dug out during the ongoing excavation, said Md Mahabub-Ul-Alam, another member of Bangladesh team.