200-year-old Imam Bari on verge of destruction

JESSORE, Jan 23: The 200-year-old historic 'Imam Bari' a magnificent building, constructed at Nurali near the town, by the legend of charity, Haji Mohammad Mohsin, is on the verge of ruination.

Continued negligence and lack of maintenance by the authority, has created such a situation.

In a bid to protect the building and uphold its past glory, the Archaeological Department took it upits renovation work in March 1987. But nothing has been done yet for reasons unknown. The building was once the main office to run the entire zamindary administration of Haji Mohammad Mohsin.

Haji Mohammad Mohsin transferred all his properties in favour of Syedpur Trust Estate through a deed of will for the welfare of general public in 1806.

Regular maintenance of the building and release of pay and allowances to its caretakers from the revenues of the estate were clearly mentioned in this historic document.

Haji Mohammad Mohsin died in 1812. Soon after his demise, irregularities began to creep in the administative set-up.

Things became all right and all irregularities were removed when the Indian government came forward and interferred in the whole affairs.

But when the properties were acquired by the law of acquisition during the period of earstwhile East Pakistan, the estate became like guardianless.

Later, the local district administration sanctioned Taka nine lakh to utilise them for public service.

According to the will, a caretaker was appointed, but no positive steps have so far been taken for its repair and reconstruction. Imam Bari is in a very pitiable condition. All the doors and windows have been destroyed, its walls roofs have been broken down and the floor has become the dens of poisonous snakes and insecticides.

It is heading towards complete destruction.

If this situation continues, it will go out of existence.

The Archaeological Department should take up its renovation work immediately with a view to saving it from total destruction.