Kuakata ancient sail ship in tatters
The ancient schooner on the beach during its salvage operation by the Bangladesh Army engineers in 2013.
The 200-year-old wooden sail ship, salvaged from under the beach in Kuakata at a cost of over one crore taka now lies in tatters due to a lack of conservation efforts.
In 2013, engineers of the Bangladesh Army salvaged the ancient ship, believed to be a schooner. They painstakingly laid railway tracks over a distance of about three kilometers, in order to move the 72 feet long and 22.5 feet wide ship, weighing about 70 metric tons, eventually placing it near the main Buddhist temple at Kuakata Zero Point. From the same spot on the beach from where the ship was salvaged, the engineers had also dug out a 5o-foot long chain, now on display, weighing over four to five tons. Ever since it was placed there, the sail ship, popularly known as Shonar Nouka (the ship of gold; called as such for its hull’s coating of a golden copper sheet), has been a must visit destination for thousands of tourists.
During a recent visit, the wooden artifact was found open to everyone without any guards or caretaker. Interestingly, the Department of Archaeology, on paper, has employed three local people each with a daily allowance of Tk. 280 to maintain an eight hourly shift each, thus ensuring a round-the-clock vigil. However during the three-day visit by this correspondent, no one was sighted at the site. Instead, vandals were carving names and writing love messages on the panels of the artifact. There was no protection whatsoever. A scribbled warning sign was nailed to the boat urging people not to damage the national heritage.
The scribbled warning sign haphazardly nailed to the side of the boat.
A group of tourists from Khulna wondered about the probable history of the ship and looked around eagerly to find a signboard. There was none to be seen.
“They (the archeologists) should have put a board explaining its significance and its most probable history to help people like us to learn more about our history,” said Ananta Kumar Dey, a student of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology.
Afroza Khan Mita is the assistant director of the Department of Archeology, who from its Dhaka office worked on the salvage operation of the ancient ship. She told reportsbd.com that the department does not have funds to do what is necessary for conservation of the historic sail ship.
The 50-foot chain displayed next to the ship near Kuakata Zero point.
“We have appealed to everyone to come forward and fund its restoration and conservation program,” Mita said. “We have three men working for us to safeguard the artifact but as per reports they are absent most of the time.”
“We had written to the national museum more than two months ago for help to restore this unique piece of artifact, but they seem to have ignored our appeal,” she added.
Mita also added that the Rakhaine community is objecting to setting up a structure on the land claiming land ownership. “They are even obstructing us from building a wall around the precious ancient sail ship,” she added.
The origin of the schooner
There are two theories about the origin of the sail ship that partially surfaced on the beach on July 2, 2012 with the receding tidal water of the Bay of Bengal.
One theory suggests that many Rakhines came here from Myanmar in 1784 with around 50 boats, in order to escape from persecution and torture of Bodpaya, who captured the power after defeating Thamada, the then king of the Arakan province. The sail ship now on display in Kuakata might be one of such vessels.
The second theory links the sail ship to the Portuguese pirates in the 16th and 17th centuries, who used schooners for its speed to travel to this part of the hemisphere and disappear fast after looting villages along the coastal areas.
The outer hull of the ship on display after salvation.
Whatever the present situation, we need scientific analysis such as carbon dating and further research to reveal the mysterious past of this beautiful gift of time bestowed on the people of Bangladesh.
Report by Morshed Ali Khan
Photographs by Alasdair Macdonald (Ally)
Additional Photo Courtesy: Bangladesh Army Engineers
Short URL: https://reportsbd.com/?p=288
Posted by Reportsbd
on Mar 6 2015. Filed under Environment, Home Slide, National, Travel.
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