-Dr. Md. Mozahedul Haque
Abstract:
Mahasthan, or Mahasthangarh, is one of the earliest urban sites in Bangladesh, situated on the western bank of the Karatoya River, approximately 12 km north of Bogura town. This site spans the Shibganj and Sadar Upazilas of the Bogura district and is located between latitudes 24˚50ʹN and 25˚0ʹN, and longitudes 89˚15ʹE and 89˚30ʹE. The site itself is a rectangular fortified mound, measuring 1524 x 1370 meters. While prehistoric remains have been discovered in several regions of Bangladesh, such as the Lalmai-Mainamati region in Cumilla (formerly Comilla), the Chaklapunji Tea Garden in Chunarughat, Habiganj district, Chhagalnaiya in the Feni district, and Wari-Bateshwar in the Narshingdi district, the inscription found at Mahasthangarh represents the earliest archaeological evidence of written history in Bangladesh. This inscription dates back to the reign of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (c. 268 – c. 232 BC). Furthermore, numerous archaeological findings have been uncovered through explorations and excavations conducted in and around Mahasthangarh. This research aims to provide a detailed overview of these discoveries.
