A nearly 500-year-old heritage building in Sonargaon, Narayanganj, has allegedly suffered damage after being rented to Coke Studio for a shoot, prompting local heritage activists to demand an immediate investigation and restoration.
The History, Heritage and Archaeological Resources Conservation Committee alleged that parts of Boro Sardar Bari, housed within the Bangladesh Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation Museum, were damaged as workers dismantled temporary structures installed for the shoot.
The allegations were raised at a press conference at the Narayanganj Press Club auditorium on Saturday (29 August). Poet and essayist Shahed Kayes, convener of the organisation, made the claims.
Kayes described Boro Sardar Bari as a nearly 500-year-old example of Mughal architecture. He alleged that the historic building was recently rented commercially to Coke Studio for filming and that several sections of the main structure collapsed while the temporary installations were being removed.
He said the damage was significant and required urgent attention because the building is an important historical and archaeological asset of Bangladesh.
The organisation’s leaders warned that the damage could become irreversible if restoration work does not begin quickly. They demanded an immediate investigation and called for experts to restore the affected sections and return the building to its original design.
They also urged the government to take effective measures to protect the historic site from further damage.
The speakers further alleged that artists and craftspeople at the Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation, established by Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, are being deprived of various facilities and opportunities. They called for proper recognition and adequate facilities for them.
The press conference was also attended by the organisation’s joint convener, poet Rahman Mujib; cultural figure Rafiur Rabbi; and Dhiman Saha Jewel, vice-president of the Narayanganj Cultural Alliance, among others.
