Published: 09:13 AM, 21 August 2026
400-year-old Shyamsundar temple set for restoration
The Department of Archaeology has taken an initiative to preserve the nearly 400-year-old Sonabaria Shyamsundar Math in Kalaroa upazila of Satkhira. After years of neglect, the historic temple has undergone preliminary cleaning, and preparations are now underway for its full-scale conservation and restoration. A delegation from the Department of Archaeology visited the temple site on Wednesday to assess its condition. The delegation included Md. Mahidul Islam, Regional Director of the Department of Archaeology in Khulna; Shapla Singha, Assistant Professor at Khulna University and a researcher of heritage and culture; journalist Milon Biswas and Mohammad Hossain Ali.
During the visit, the delegation examined the temple’s structural condition, walls, cornices, terracotta ornamentation and other deteriorated sections. They also discussed the technical and scientific measures required before restoration work begins.
Md. Mahidul Islam said the Shyamsundar Temple is a significant heritage site listed in the official gazette of the Department of Archaeology. Preliminary cleaning has already been completed but a comprehensive scientific pre-documentation process will be carried out before restoration begins.
He explained that restoration of historic structures without proper pre-documentation can risk damaging their original form and heritage elements. Experts will therefore conduct a detailed survey, prepare architectural documentation and collect relevant technical data using scientific methods before the conservation work begins. He further said arrangements would be made for permanent restoration and conservation in the next fiscal year, subject to the allocation of the necessary funds. Old trees, vines and parasitic vegetation growing on the structure will also be removed with extreme care to prevent damage to the original fabric of the building.
During the inspection, Shapla Singha emphasised not only the historical significance of the monument but also the need for its digital preservation. She argued that conserving a heritage site should go beyond restoring its physical structure; its associated history, culture and collective memory must also be preserved.
Given the impact of coastal salinity and humidity on the structure, she proposed documenting the oral histories and personal memories of local residents aged over 60 and developing a digital archive. She also suggested using dioramas or archival imagery to recreate the temple’s historical surroundings, including the atmosphere of its electricity-free nights, for visitors from Bangladesh and abroad.
According to Shapla, such an initiative could eventually serve as a model for preserving other historic temples, mosques and heritage structures across Bangladesh.
Temple president Debapriya Chowdhury and priest Subrata Prasad Chowdhury welcomed the Archaeology Department’s initiative. They said years of neglect and disturbances caused by drug users had left the historic complex vulnerable to further deterioration. Following the completion of the initial cleaning, they expressed hope that permanent restoration would now begin. They also called for the urgent construction of a boundary wall to ensure the security and sanctity of the temple complex.
According to historical accounts cited in the works of historian Satish Chandra Mitra and Professor Md Abu Nasar, the approximately 60-foot-high, three-storey Shyamsundar Temple was built in 1767 by Hariram Das, although some accounts attribute its construction to Durgapriya Das. The complex also includes temples dedicated to Durga and Shiva, as well as a historic pond known as “Jomir Biswaser Pukur.”
The Archaeology Department’s on-site assessment, its decision to undertake scientific pre-documentation and the assurance of restoration funding in the next fiscal year have brought renewed hope among local residents and members of the Hindu community for the preservation of the historic monument.
