United News of Bangladesh

Heavy rainfall has left the historic Shilaidaha Kuthibari, the ancestral estate associated with Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, waterlogged, raising concerns among people. Located around 800 metres west of the Padma River in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia, Shilaidaha Kuthibari is closely associated with some of Tagore’s most celebrated literary works. Tagore wrote numerous poems, songs, plays and short stories there. Many of the works included in his Nobel Prize-winning collection Gitanjali were also written at the estate. The site attracts thousands of visitors from home and abroad every day. However, several days of continuous heavy rain have submerged much of the compound, including the main entrance, open-air stage, murals, museum courtyard and flower and fruit gardens. Local visitors and tourists expressed frustration over the situation and urged the authorities to drain the water quickly and restore the site’s natural beauty. During a recent visit, the main gate and the open-air stage of the site were submerged by the rain water. The stage could no longer be used for poetry recitations or gatherings. Water had also accumulated around the mural and inside the museum courtyard. Several trees in the gardens were bent under the water, while some appeared at risk of being uprooted. Visitors were largely confined to paved walkways and were unable to fully enjoy the surroundings. Habib Khan, who came from Pangsha in Rajbari district, said he had long dreamed of visiting Tagore’s home. “I came from so far away only to find the entire area flooded. There is hardly a dry place even to take photographs. It is very disappointing,” he said. Nahid Khan, who visited the site with a group of 40 students from Rajshahi, said they had planned to recite poems at the open-air stage and take photographs in the mango garden. “But the areas are also underwater. The authorities should take immediate action,” he said. Ishtiaq Ahmed, a private-sector employee who visited the site with his family from Kushtia town, said he felt embarrassed after bringing guests to the waterlogged premises. “This is a historic heritage site. Such a condition is unacceptable. There should be a properly planned drainage system here,” he said. Another visitor, Ashraful Islam, said Shilaidaha Kuthibari was not merely a tourist attraction but a national heritage site. “The same situation occurs every year during the rainy season. When will there be a permanent solution?” he asked. ATM Fariduzzaman, who came from Tangail, said the natural surroundings had inspired Tagore’s writings. “It is painful to see water from nature now threatening the place that preserves his memory,” he said. Kuthibari employees are also facing difficulties because of the waterlogging. A damp smell has developed inside and outside the museum, while several trees have been damaged by prolonged waterlogging. Sakib Hossain, an employee of the Kuthibari, said many flowering and fruit-bearing trees in the gardens were at risk of dying. He said the Padma River is around 800 metres east of the Kuthibari and that rainwater previously drained toward the river through a narrow canal beside the road. “The canal has gradually become unusable because of encroachment and pollution. That is why the Kuthibari is facing this situation,” he said. Al Amin, custodian of Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari, said visitors were suffering because of the waterlogging. “We do not have our own drainage system. Previously, water from the Kuthibari used to drain into a nearby bill. But this year, due to heavy rainfall, water from the bill is flowing into the Kuthibari instead,” he said. He said the matter had already been brought to the attention of the local administration and urged immediate measures to drain the water. “Otherwise, the infrastructure and valuable archaeological objects of the Kuthibari could be damaged,” he warned. Assistant Commissioner (Land) of the upazila Navid Sarwar said the authorities would visit the site soon and take necessary measures to address the problem.