Archiving 'nagar kashba' : a study on the present condition and the architectural features of an evanescing historic settlement

Abstract

Bangladesh-a small country enriched with prestigious history possesses an enormous number of unrecorded heritage buildings which act as the raconteur of tangible-intangible cultural and historic identity. ‘Nagar Kashba’- a row of magnificent courtyard houses on both sides of a narrow alley built in British Colonial style is a precedent of heritage edifices situated in Munshiganj (Bikrampur) - the first capital of ancient Bengal. During the Colonial period, it was built near Mirkadim river port as residential settlements of elite Hindu Merchants adorning the fusion of British Colonial and Mughal style adapting the local context and spatial formations. The buildings were encroached illegally after the liberation war of 1971 by local influential people and now when the buildings fail to please their contemporary needs, the owners are willing to demolish the edifices and erect multi-storied buildings. Reluctance towards heritage conservation, random alteration, weathering, etc. are accelerating this process of decay. Unfortunately, this living archaeological site is still neglected by scholars. The heritage buildings and the surrounding area should be conserved and prior conservation, documentation is necessary. This paper endeavours to archive an overview of the architectural features and spatial formations of this evanescing historic settlement through documentation, assess the context and present condition, which will help to re-evaluate the historic site for conservation and adapt further strategies to rejuvenate the glorious historic identity of Nagar Kashba.