Residents tearful in front of the banyan tree which commemorates the poet Madhusudan
Photo Collected
People are thronging to see the memorial banyan tree of epic poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt uprooted by storm on the banks of Kapotaksha river in Keshavpur, Jessore. Many are in pain, many are in tears.
On Sunday, on the surface of the ground, on the banks of the Kapotaksha river, which flows to the east of the poet’s house, it can be seen that a huge banyan tree has been uprooted and has occupied a large area. The surrounding trees were also damaged. The tree bears red fruit. Many people including the surrounding people are expressing grief around this tree.
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The local residents said that the tree was uprooted in Kalbaisakhi because there was no soil in its roots. They complain that no official initiative has been taken to preserve this tree, which is full of poet’s memories. But tourists from far away used to come to see this tree. They used to spend some time here. They used to take pictures and express their emotions. A large population of Malo communities live next to the banyan trees. There is also a river gorge here under the trees. There is a temple on its banks.
Senior resident Sunil Halder (70) said that he was sitting on the balcony during the storm. At this time, the tree uprooted with a loud noise and fell on the bank of the river. Then he shouted and called the people around and came to the tree. See, the tree is uprooted. He said that his grandfather and father saw this tree. According to him, this tree is 250 years old. He said, he will plant a sapling here.
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Mira Halder (60), a local resident, said that around one o’clock on Saturday, she came to take water from a deep tubewell near the tree. At that time there was a heavy storm and rain. He took shelter under a tree to escape the rainwater. The tree was swaying due to the strong wind and where he was standing, the roots of the banyan tree seemed to be uprooted. Then he hurriedly took water and headed home in the rain. At this time, the tree fell with a loud sound.
Hazrat Moral (72), a farmer of Sagardandi village, said, ‘The tree used to act as our shade. Especially those who used to work for food, they used to come and sit under this tree to relieve pain in the heat.
Madhusudan researcher poet Khusru Parvez said, Madhusudan Datta and the zamindar family used to use this ghat of the river. Especially they used to come from Calcutta and get down at this ghat. They have been demanding for the maintenance of the tree for a long time. But due to not looking at it, a history ended.
Hasanuzzaman, Custodian of Sagardandi Archeology Directorate, said that the Directorate of Archeology has no jurisdiction to take care of trees. For this reason, they have nothing to do about this tree. However, he was also shocked when the tree collapsed. He said, another new banyan tree can be planted at that place.
Keshavpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Reksona Khatun said, “We are shocked that the banyan tree fell in Kalbaisakhi. According to the government rules, the tree will be sold in the auction process and the money will be given to the state treasury. And since people’s emotions surround this tree, a new banyan tree will be planted there.’
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