Disaster in Bangladesh: Revisiting the Archaeological Evidences

(From Earliest Times to c. 1800 CE)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59815/bhs.vol2701 

DR. SAHIDUL HASAN

Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Dhaka

Abstract: Bangladesh, a nation-state emerged in 1971 has a long history of fighting against natural forces since the remote antiquities. During 18th-20th centuries the area was part of Bengal, a toponym used by the British. Due to its location, geo-physical features and climate natural challenges like flood, earthquake etc. are common phenomenon in the life of the people living in Bangladesh. Textual records of the last three century have frequent references of such events. But research on the subject centered on the period before the 1800 CE is scant. This paper attempts to analyze those events which may be termed as disaster. We will use the archeological evidences as primary source. In the last six decades, archeologists have unearthed a large volume of information related to the pre-modern past of Bangladesh, which have been published in the form of excavation reports, research articles and book chapters. The archaeological data will be crosschecked with epigraphic, literary and contemporary geological researches to get a cursory view on history of disaster in Bangladesh from the earliest time to c. 1800 CE. To be more focused, we will limit out discussion to the spatial boundary of present day Bangladesh.

Key Words: Bengal Delta, Flood, Earthquake.