Muktagacha temples may be lost to history

Three temples -- 'Tin Shib-er Mandir', 'Rajrajeswari Mandir' and the 'Bura Shib-er Mandir' (all dating back over a century) -- on Maharaja Road located in Muktagacha Upazila headquarters are popular attractions for the spiritually inclined. These temples were built by the Muktagacha Zamindars of yore. Since over a decade, the temples have been under the aegis of the Archaeological Department.

The Rajrajeswari Mandir is the hub of Durga Puja celebrations every year. Since the inception of the temple, 'bhog' (offering) is distributed to devotees at noon, says Shyamal Krishna Chakraborty, the former 'purohit' (chief priest) of the temple. Renovation is desperately needed to save the temple from complete collapse, says Rakesh Chakraborty, the current 'purohit.'

Another Shib temple, made of white stone by a pond on Maharaja Road, still recalls the zamindari days. The 150-year-old temple stands apart for its striking architecture. Local sources make the revelation that during the Liberation War, many valuable artefacts from the temples were plundered by the occupying Pakistani army and their local collaborators.

Subhash Chandra Raxmit, 68, a freedom fighter, told the Daily Star that the Archaeological Department should take urgent measures to preserve the temples. He went on to add that the local devotees cannot carry out any development work of the temples as they are now government property. However, if government apathy continues, the temples may turn into distant reminders of a glorious past.

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