BRAHMANBARIA |
THE government of Bangladesh has taken the initiative to declare the sesquicentennial house of revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta as an antiquities in Sarail, Brahmanbaria. In this regard, Director General of Antiquities Preservation Wing of Directorate of Archeology Chandan Kumar Dey wrote to the Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria. This information was obtained from the letter sent to the District Commissioner.
■ Sesquicentennial house of revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta in Kalikachha
The letter mentions that earlier on December 7, the Deputy Commissioner sent a letter to the Department of Archaeology. In that letter, it was said that the residence of the revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta has historical importance as a witness to his life and work in Kalikachha village under Sarail upazila.
According to the instructions of the Ministry of Culture, the local administration needs to have a clear opinion and land schedule. It will be possible to take the initiative to acquire the land subject to the availability of the budget after the publication of the gazette of the declaration of the reserved habitat
According to the Antiquities Act, 1968, there are reports that it will be preserved. In case of preservation of any antiquities, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Culture, the local administration needs to have a clear opinion and land schedule. It will be possible to take the initiative to acquire the land subject to the availability of the budget after the publication of the gazette of the declaration of the reserved habitat.
■ A multi–storey building under construction by hiding the Ullaskar Dutta’s main house
On November 16 afternoon, a human chain was organized in front of the sesquicentennial house of Biplobi Ullaskar Dutta in Kalikachha village. Numerous Bangladeshi national and local media outlets covered that event. After that the issue came to in attention.
On November 26 around 12 noon, another human chain was organized near Brahmanbaria Press Club by the initiative of the History, Heritage and Antiquities Preservation Council to preserve the house of revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta. The human chain demanded the protection, conservation and acquisition of Ullaskar Dutta’s homestead at Dattapara of Kalikachha village in Sarail as an archaeological resource.
The History, Heritage and Antiquities Preservation Council to preserve the house of revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta. The human chain demanded the protection, conservation and acquisition of Ullaskar Dutta’s homestead at Dattapara of Kalikachha village in Sarail as an archaeological resource
On December 6th, hundreds of fellow citizens and several organisations took part in a rally from Sarail to Kalikachha.
Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Md. Shahgir Alam told media, ‘Revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta has contributed to the anti–British movement to free the motherland. He is the pride of Brahmanbaria. The district administration will take all necessary measures to preserve the historic house. Received letter from Directorate of Archaeology. Further action will be taken as per instructions.’
■ A human chain was organized in front of the sesquicentennial house of Biplobi Ullaskar Dutta in Kalikachha
Revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta was born on April 16, 1885 in the house of Dattapara, Kalikachha. He had a unique role in the anti–British movement. In the famous Alipore Bomb Case, Ullaskar was arrested on 2 May 1908 and he was sentenced to death by hanging in 1909. Later, on appeal, the verdict was reduced to transportation for life and he was deported to the Cellular Jail in Andaman.
Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Md. Shahgir Alam told media, ‘Revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta has contributed to the anti–British movement to free the motherland. He is the pride of Brahmanbaria. The district administration will take all necessary measures to preserve the historic house. Received letter from Directorate of Archaeology. Further action will be taken as per instructions
Ullaskar was subjected to brutal torture in the Cellular Jail and is said have lost his mental balance. He was set free in 1920 and he returned to Kolkata. Later Dutta went to Silchar, Assam and died there on 17 May 1965.
In Kalikachha, Ullaskar Dutta’s house is 150–200 years old. The inner rooms still have aesthetic craftsmanship. The entire building is 70 feet long and 20 feet wide.
■ Rally marching to Kalikachha
Locals claimed that in 1989, the late Hafizur Rahman of Suryakandi village and his brother former UP chairman Ahmadur Rahman bought that sesquicentennial house from Ullaskar Dutta’s younger brother’s son late Shibendra Kumar Dutta. Among them, the sesquicentennial building complex fell to Hajizur Rahman. It includes the birth place of revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta. Hafizur Rahman’s six sons share that sesquicentennial house. Among one of them, expatriate Ekhlachur Rahman (35), has taken the initiative of constructing a multi–storey building by hiding the Ullaskar Dutta’s main house.
It is known that on November 16, 17 and 25, December 6, different organizations formed human chain in the courtyard of the office of the chairman of Sarail Upazila Parishad and Ullaskar Dutta’s birthplace to protect the sesquicentennial house.
On November 17th, Sarail Upazila Administration Assistant Commissioner (Land) Farhana Nasreen ordered to stop the construction work after inspecting the site.
On November 29th a team from anthological directorate of Cultural Ministry visited the sesquicentennial house of revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta in Kalikachha village and instructed UNO Sarail to take necessary action and report Brahmanbaria district administration.
On 21st November, after received ground report from Sarail UNO and AC Land Sarail, Deputy Commissioner Brahmanbaria sent a comprehensive report to the Secretary, Cultural Ministry in Dhaka on December the 7th. The said report also copied to Director General of Antiquities Preservation Wing of Directorate of Archeology, Divisional Commissioner Chittagong, Additional Secretary, District and Ground Level ministerial wing, Bangladesh Secretariat, Director General, Administration, PMO.
On January 29th 2023, Director General, National Archeology Chandan Kumar Dey issued a notification. In that notification he attached a draft copy of gazette along with other 31 pages related documents and pictures of sesquicentennial house of the revolutionary leader Ullaskar Dutta ■
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