Bibi Pukur:
'Bibir Pukur' is a monument
of history and tradition located in the heart of Barishal city. The city of
Barishal has gradually expanded around this pond. There is no such pond in the
heart of any other divisional city of Bangladesh. It is considered as one of
the beauty and heritage of Barishal city. Many people are interested to know
the history of this century-old and traditional pond.
During British rule, Christian missionaries came to Barishal in the early 1600s. It is known that William Kerry rescued a Muslim girl named Jinnat Bibi from Portuguese bandits and raised her. The house of Hashem Ali Khan, the minister of undivided Bengal, was the residence of Jinnat Bibi. Later, Jinnah was married to Muslim youth. William Carey used to call Jinnat Bibi as Janet. In 1908, Jinnat Bibi took the initiative to dig a pond to alleviate the water woes of the people and accordingly a pond 400 feet long and 1850 feet wide was dug on the east side of the city's Sadar Road. From then on the pond became known as the 'Bibir Pukur'. At one time the pond had two connections with the river Kirtankhola and had regular tides. One of the connections was connected to the Kirtankhola River through the Vatar canal, a Barishal Circuit House, and the other to the Kirtankhola River through an extinct canal that runs along the city's Girza Mahalla.
Since the establishment of Barishal Municipality, the Bibi Pukur has been renovated and re-excavated in various ways. In 2003, a walkway was constructed around it. In 2006, various activities were undertaken to preserve the heritage and enhance the beauty of Bibi Pukur. Adjacent to the pond is the open entertainment center Public Square (now known as Hiran Square) and fountains between the ponds. The Bibi Pukur is currently being used as a place of civic recreation. In the afternoon and evening, people gather on the banks of the pond and in Hiran Square to hang out and spend their leisure time. On December 15, 2014, free Wi-Fi was added to the public around the pond and in Hiran Square area. Due to the fact that the pond is in the center of the city and the transportation facilities are good, people crowd here for long nights.
Delicious food is also
available near the pond. These include Chatpati, Fuchka, Butmuri, Piyazu and
various types of chops. Bibi Pukur was beautified in 2012 at the initiative of
Barishal City Corporation and with the funding of Grameenphone. There are
hanging parks around the pond, sitting benches, sophisticated grills and
lighting to enhance the beauty of the pond, billboards with the history of the
pond, tree planting around the pond, improved walkways and colorful fountains.
The Barishal City Corporation has set up a Wi-Fi zone in the area adjacent to
Bibi Pukur, which has increased the number of young people here. The general
public has demanded the city corporation to take more practical steps to
enhance the aesthetics of this traditional pond, including activating fountains
and illumination, removing illegal billboards to beautify the pond.
History and tradition are intertwined around the present
Bangabandhu Udyan and the former Bells Park in Barisal city. The park is a
reminder of such British initiatives. In the same way, there is accompanied by
a series of events in our national life. At present, this park is one of the
beautiful areas in Barisal with a playground, walkway, helipad, lots of trees
and lakes adjacent to it.
In 1896, District Magistrate ND Bitsen Bell came to
Barisal. This British officer is remembered in Barisal for many reasons. With
the efforts of Bitsen Bell and Khan Bahadur Hemayet Uddin, a dormitory called
Bell Islamia Hostel was built for the education of Muslim students in Barishal.
Mr. Bell has many more contributions. When the plague broke out in Barisal, he
jumped to eradicate it. However, his name is mixed around Bangabandhu Udyan.
The construction of the park is a testament to the unique efforts of District
Magistrate Bitsen Bell. Until 1998, it was known as Bell's Park. It is rumoured
that Mr. Bell took the initiative to build this ground to commemorate the
arrival of King George V in Barisal. But for some reason, this program was
cancelled at that time. Since then, all major public and private activities
have been carried out around this field. Bitsen Bell has shown a lot of
foresight to build this field. At that time the Kirtankhola river was further
ahead. This green carpet along the banks of the Kirtankhola created a unique
natural environment.
In 1996, the Awami League government renamed the park 'Bangabandhu Udyan'. Although it has been officially called 'Bangabandhu Udyan' since then, it is still well known to the general public as 'Bell's Park'. Bangabandhu Udyan is 650 feet long and 550 feet wide. However, this is the total size of the garden and the side lake. Only the park is 550 feet long and 450 feet on the side. The park is surrounded by a walkway. There are innumerable ornamental trees. The variety of lakes beside the park has multiplied its beauty. After the green grass at night, the aesthetic light not only enhanced the beauty of the garden but also made it unique. In addition to the green grass carpet in the middle of Bangabandhu Udyan, it is surrounded by flower gardens and shade trees. There are seating benches and tents. A Green City Park has recently been built by the City Corporation next to the park which has made the garden more aesthetic. Next to Bangabandhu Udyan (on the side of the road) is the largest mural of Barisal Division. This mural of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu's has been created by artist Aminul Hasan Litu and artist Hafiz Uddin Babu. At present, thousands of people walk on the walkway of this large park in the morning and evening. Illuminated in the evening, the park is now one of the city's entertainment centers.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BNP leader and former Prime Minister
Begum Khaleda Zia, former President Hussain Muhammad Ershad and leaders of all
walks of life have held a public meeting at Bangabandhu Udyan. After
independence in 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave a speech here. To
commemorate his (Bangabandhu's) arrival at this time, a 'free stage' was set up
here which still stands today. Millions of people have been seen gathering
around Bangabandhu Udyan or any festival. All the social and cultural events, agricultural
and industrial exhibitions, big gatherings, announcements, fairs, parades,
festivals of Barisal surround this park. Although the park is owned by the
Public Works Department, the Barisal City Corporation (BCC) is in charge of its
maintenance. The city corporation has separate people to look after Bangabandhu
Udyan. They sprinkle water and prune trees. Currently, the park has become an
ideal green garden. As a result, Bangabandhu Udyan has taken the form of a
tourist center in Barisal. The beauty that Mr. Bell created almost a hundred
years ago has become a wonder today. Major MA Jalil, Commander of Sector 9,
gave military training to the freedom fighters during the war of liberation in
this park. With all the national struggles and events flowing with this park,
the park has become known as a historical place.
