The three-domed mosque at Mahiganj in Rangpur, also known as Bakhtiari Mosque, is covered with weeds and vines. The arch cracked a long time ago. The brick-plaster of the walls has fallen off. If this historical instruction is not taken under the purview of the Department of Archeology, this monument built during the reign of Bakhtiyar Khalji 800 years ago will be lost.
The place where Jaydurga Devi (Devi Chowdhurani), the zamindar of Manthana in Pirgachha, was killed fighting against the British is now neglected. Shiv Chandra Roy, the zamindar of Itakumari, and Kesht Kishore Chowdhury, the younger brother of Devi Chowdhurani, were killed in a battle with the British. A fair remembering the rich history of this area is held at that place every Thursday of the month of Baishakh every year.
The Department of Archeology has not yet taken any initiative to preserve these sites. Besides, numerous archeological monuments including zamindarbari inside Mahiganj Public Library, Rangpur Public Library and Fire Service have been neglected. Although there are numerous historical monuments scattered in the Rangpur division, the archeology department is looking at only 56 archeological monuments including the Tajhat zamindar house. The rest are in neglect. But the archeology department says survey work will begin soon.
Regarding Bakhtiyar Mosque, former chairman of Rangpur Municipality Kazi Junnun said, "I put up a memorial plaque there while I was the chairman." In the 1200s, Ikhtiyar Uddin Bakhtiyar Khilji took up residence in Rangpur on his expedition to China. Then that mosque was built. "During my tenure, I tried to renovate the mosque and bring it under the purview of the Department of Archeology," he said. But it was not possible because of some locals. The mosque is 32 feet long from north to south and 13 feet wide. The height of the cornice from the ground is ten feet. The east wall has three semicircular arched entrances. The entrances to the north and south walls are almost identical. Roads other than the northern entrance are blocked by brick masonry.
The place where Devi Chowdhurani, the zamindar of Manthana in Pirgachha, Rangpur, was killed in a battle against the British is still neglected. A three-domed mosque in the middle of the battlefield with the British is still in a dilapidated condition. To the north, the ruins of another building can be seen. There is a huge pond in front of the two buildings. It is said that the pond was dug on the instructions of Goddess Chowdhurani. There are three doors to enter the mosque.
The locals hold a fair called 'Napaichandir Mela' every year at this place of struggle to commemorate the glorious memory of Chandi Devi (Goddess Chowdhurani). The village of Chandipur was a stronghold of the anti-British rebel Pir Fakir monks. Two connecting canals were cut from the Alaikuri River and connected to the secret fort building.
Goddess Chowdhurani's fleet was kept in this connection canal. Nawab Nuruddin Baker Jung, Bhabani Pathak, Devi Chowdhurani and Shivchandra Roy used to meet in secret meetings at the secret fort of Chandipur to determine the tactics of the anti-British struggle.
The place was named Pabitrajhar because the goddess Chowdhurani and others killed in the war with the British were buried in the surrounding area.
Nahid Sultana, Rangpur-Rajshahi Regional Director of the Department of Archeology, said a survey of archeological sites which are not listed now would begin soon.
