Bhitargarh (literally the ‘inner fort’) is located about 16 km northeast of Panchagarh town in Amarkhana union under Panchagarh Sadar police station in Panchagarh (literally the ‘five forts’), the northernmost administrative district of Bangladesh. Interestingly, the site is actually transnational because portions of its outer enclosure on the northwest, the north and the northeast lie in Jalpaigu
ri district, West Bengal, India. According to local tradition, Bhitargarh was the capital of a king named Prithu, “a very holy personage, who was so much afraid of having his purity sullied, that, on the approach of an abominable tribe of impure feeders named Kichok, he threw himself into a tank, and was followed by all his guards, so that the town was given up to plunder and the family ceased to reign.”
After carrying out a systematic archaeological investigation for about two years in Panchagarh district and considering various criteria such as the size of the site, its woeful state of preservation and ongoing pilferage, the thickness of the habitation deposit, the cultural sequences perceived from explored materials, Dr. Shahnaj Husne Jahan, Professor and Director of the Center for Archaeological Studies, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) is conducting systematic archaeological investigations at Bhitargarh since 2008 with the permission of the Director General, Department of Archaeology and active participation of the ULAB students, who had opted for the course “Experiencing the Past” under their General Education Program. Systematic archaeological investigations at Bhitargarh Walled city by Dr. Shahnaj Husne Jahan from 2008 to date have revealed numerous unique features. It is clear from the above statement that Bhitargarh contains immense potentiality in terms of history and heritage of Bangladesh in particular and South Asia in general. Unfortunately, the archaeological remains of this ancient city are gradually disappearing due to human and natural activities. Therefore, it is suggested that necessary steps should immediately be taken to protect the archaeological heritage site of Bhitargarh in Panchagarh district under the provisions of the Antiquities Act.
