The remaining houses of Zamindars in Ajmiriganj Upazila of Habiganj have fallen into a state of disrepair, turning into havens for drug addicts and gamblers. Photo : TDM
In the Ajmiriganj Upazila of Habiganj, 13 historic zamindar houses are facing neglect and occupation, posing a significant threat to the region's ancient religious traditions. Local influential individuals have taken over four of these houses, leading to the loss of valuable heritage. Meanwhile, two houses have been recently renovated and are now being utilized by locals.
Unfortunately, the remaining houses have fallen into a state of disrepair, turning into havens for drug addicts and gamblers. The once-flourishing Jaluskha village, which served as pasture land for the zamindars, is now struggling to preserve its rich cultural history.
Before the partition of India in 1947, the village housed 13 zamindars, among them 12 orthodox and one Muslim zamindar. The majority of these landlords migrated to India, leaving behind their estates in the hands of their heirs scattered across India and different parts of Bangladesh.
According to the list of preserved deeds, the landlords responsible for tax collection are Laikanta Roy, Chandra Kumar Roy, Govinda Chandra Roy, Kshetranath Roy, Krishna Kumar Roy, Bharat Chandra Roy, Satish Chandra Roy, Rama Vallabh Halder, Sarat Chandra Roy, Nandalal Roy, Satish Kumar Roy, Madhav Chandra Roy and Ramzan Ali Chowdhury alias Busha Mia Chowdhury. Each of these landlords held the responsibility of tax collection in their respective Taluks or Chauhuddars.
Among these zamindars, Chandra Kumar Roy was particularly infamous for his tyranny and strict rules, including punishing anyone who dared to walk past his mahal with shoes on.
One significant building in the southern neighborhood, known as Atchala, belonged to the powerful zamindar Gobin Chandra Roy. This building served as a meeting place for the 13 zamindars.
Speaking about the struggles faced by descendants of zamindar families, Nipur Roy, the son of Kamlesh Roy, shared the difficulties his family experienced upon returning to their dilapidated neighborhood. Many of the descendants who migrated to India left their properties in the care of domestic workers, only to find them occupied upon their return.
Local conscious groups and liberation war researcher Dr. Sheikh Fazle Elahi emphasised the importance of preserving the ancient structures, ponds, playgrounds, mosques, temples, and houses established by the zamindars to uphold the area's old traditions. The demand for preserving these buildings is echoed by Sane Alam Chowdhury, a descendant of a local resident Muslim zamindar family.
In response to the situation, Ajmiriganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Jewel Bhowmik pledged to inspect the site and inform higher authorities about the condition of the historic houses. He assured that appropriate legal action would be taken if any complaints regarding illegal possession were received.
The current state of neglect and occupation threatens the rich historical and cultural heritage of the zamindar houses in Ajmiriganj Upazila, calling for urgent action from the authorities to preserve and protect these significant landmarks.
TDM/SD
