<i>Khulna Rabindra Complex project gathering dust for 13 years</i>

The 114-year-old two-storey building of Rabindranath Tagore's father-in-law at Dakkhindihi in Phultola upazila of Khulna remains uncared for. Photo: STAR

The project file for the construction of Rabindra Complex at Dakkhindihi in the district has been gathering dust for nearly 13 years.
The project was decided on November 14, 1995 after a two-storey building of poet Rabindranath Tagore's father-in-law Beni Madhab Roy Chowdhury in Dakkhindihi village of Phultola upazila was recovered from land grabbers on September 7.
But no positive move has so far been made to implement the project to renovate the 114-year-old building for the proposed Rabindra Complex and a stage named Mrinalini Mancha.
Beni Madhab Roy Chowdhury was born in Dakkhindihi village, 19km from Khulna city.
The district administration that played a vital role in recovering the house on 3.24 acres of land sent letters on June 22, 2000 to the ministries concerned to claim its permanent ownership.
The land and cultural affairs ministries asked the regional office of Archaeology Department to take care of the building.
Meanwhile, the cultural affairs ministry could not yet pay the price of the recovered land reportedly due to fund crisis.
Khulna Archaeology Department Director Shihabuddin Mohammad Akbar said the construction of the complex could not be started since the government is yet to allocate funds to pay Tk 78 lakh as the price of the recovered land and building.
He said Tk 49 lakh was sought in the 2007-'08 financial year for necessary renovation of the old building but they have not yet received the amount.
Meanwhile, the district administration has organised a three-day celebration of the 147th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in Dakkhindihi. LGRD Adviser Anwarul Iqbal inaugurated the programme on Thursday.
The programmes include recitation of Tagore's poems, rendition of Rabindra Sangeet and dance drama, and discussion on Tagore's literary works and various aspects of his life.