An unexpected event that attarcted Bangladeshi people to Archaeology for the first time

I tried to realize the fact that what archaeology really means to our people and what they thinks about it. It is hard to articulate since to our people it seems to me sometimes that history just began from 1971 through our struggle for independence. Not only the ordinary people but also the university graduates can hardly realize what does it means by the word archaeology. Often i would asked about my background. I might say that I am/was a student of archaeology. `Oh. Nice subject! architecture.' Or `Is it related to fine arts?' is a common reaction to my answer. Then there is a explanation to set. Everyone knows here Paharpur (A Buddhist Monastery)and Mahastangaraah (A post-Moryan site) since in the school level textbooks have some information about these two sites. So, When we are asked we answer like this. That archaeology deals with the matters like Paharpur or Mahastangarah. In our learning days we often uttered the line that archaeology is the primary source of history. It makes history come to happen in a authentic form. But as an ordinary citizen we have nothing to do with our history and archaeological history in socio-political and economic running here in Bangladesh. Here history means all the glories and controversies of 1971, and debates related to Sheikh Mujib and General Zia. people know much that if any one calls for independence, is a great factor for politics or if anyone leads the nation toward the movements of independence it matters for the power game. But they often fails to connect their present life with the fact that once there was a great Buddhist civilization in their country. What can the do with that? They goes for picnic in the winter days to Maynaamati, Paharpur or Mahstangarah. Visits museums, have some rich food and come back to home with a little consciousness about these sites. We are talking about the literate persons from middle class. They can easily recall the history of colonial past. Even they can mention the pre-colonial Muslim era. But they can hardly recall the history before the invasion of Muslim rulers. So in this position of realization of history here occurred an historical event that made the literate persons engaged to the archaeology of Bangladesh. It was the Guimet Museum issue. There was a program called Sonar Bangla festival to be held in Paris this year. Guimet was responsible for the event. And for the festival they wanted to have some precious artifacts to be parceled for Guimet. There was laws an regulations customs and other issues. Finally it seemed to many that there is something wrong. Dal me kuch kaala hay. So, first of all a small part of the Intelligentsia raised their voice against the artifact dispatch to Paris. There held a procession during the dispatch of artifacts from National Museum. After that, all media got concerned. After a huge reporting and tele programs And a large number of the conscious people felt attachment to the procession. This is first time we saw a number of people got involved to the issue related directly to archaeology.
But what is next? What impact they really feels? That's another question.