Jhenaidah’s heritage sites: Glory fading away

The home of K.P. Basu, eminent writer of Algebra, at Harisangkarpur village in Jhenidah Upazila Sadar. UNB

By Asif Kazal. Jhenaidah, Jan 11 - Jhenaidah’s 21 officially recognised heritage sites across six upazilas, with their rusting gates, crumbling walls, and silent courtyards, now teeter on the brink of ruin, victims of neglect, indifference and the passage of time.

Walking through the grounds of the 19th-century Nilkuthi building at Khalishpur in Maheshpur upazila, it is hard to imagine that this dilapidated structure was once a bustling centre of colonial activity. Its walls, gazette-listed in 2012, are now pockmarked with decay, and weeds creep through the cracked floors.

“After gazette listing, official supervision has effectively stopped. Some structures are even on private land, making preservation even more complicated,” says local resident Russell Ahmed.

Jhenaidah’s heritage is not limited to Nilkuthi. The Miyar Dalan, the historic Shahi Mosque in Shailkupa upazila, the Rajbari Temple in Naldanga upazila, and the ancient mosque in Borobazar all bear the scars of neglect.

The ancestral homes of Ila Mitra, a prominent leader of the Tebhaga Movement, and Professor Kalipada Basu, a renowned mathematician, are quietly crumbling, their stories at risk of being erased from public memory.

According to the Department of Archaeology, these 21 structures are legally protected. Yet, field inspections reveal an uncomfortable truth: most lack effective security, maintenance, or even proper signage. Without intervention, their historic and cultural value may soon exist only in textbooks.

“Heritage is not just about old buildings; it is the soul of a community,” says Sujon Biplob, secretary of the Shailkupa Ila Mitra Memorial Preservation Council. “These sites could boost tourism, educate younger generations, and preserve our identity—but if we remain silent, they will vanish quietly.”

Residents recount years of disappointment.

Abdul Aziz of Jhenaidah Sadar notes the administration has done little to protect KP Basu’s residence, while Olier Rahman warns that historic mosques in Borobazar are steadily deteriorating due to lack of oversight.

Preserving history requires more than legal recognition, experts stress. Regular surveys, prompt restoration, funding, and community involvement are essential. Without these measures, Jhenaidah risks losing tangible evidence of its rich past.

In response, Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Masud assures that heritage conservation is being prioritised.

“Restoration and monitoring initiatives will be undertaken gradually, and we will coordinate necessary actions with relevant departments,” he said. - UNB