Ballal Sen's fort unearthed at Munshiganj

The ruins of historical Sen dynasty king Ballal Sen's palace were traced at Ballal Bari village at Rampal union, Munshiganj sadar upazila, on Monday.

A team led by Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, archaeology professor at Jahangirnagar University, found the archaeological evidence of the structure while digging up a betel nut plantation after a week-long excavation work.

Sufi Mostafizur Rahman confirmed the ruins were of Ballal Sen's fort.

The square fort, 272 metres each side, had a 60 metre trench surrounding it. A section of the trench is still visible near Rampal College. The other parts were invisible underground, covered with roads, shops and structures built above.

The village Ballala Bari was named after king Ballal Sen. He was the second ruler (1160-79) of the Sen dynasty of Bengal and son and successor of Vijay Sen. He consolidated the Sen kingdom and said to have been a scholar.

Though it has been said for long that Ballal Sen's palace was located here, the excavation revealed it was actually a fort.

A number of artefacts including bricks, earthenware and charcoal were found three feet below the surface, Sufi Mostafizur Rahman said.

The fort, temple and roads built during Ballal Sen's rule could be traced too if the digging could be continued, he said adding, it required the governement's assistance to do so.

Shayla Farzana, the district commissioner of Munshiganj and sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farukh Ahmed went to inspect the site.