Selim Sharier
Kaliganj, Satkhira:

“The borders of the country, where the direction of the river is lost,
There Satkhira, standing in the arms of Banani surrounded by form.

The true form of Bengal has been echoed in the voice of a modern folk poet. South western region of Bangladesh is rich in history. Here are Kapotaksha, Kalindi, Kakshiali, Kholpetua, Khejurdana, Maundo, Malanch, Ichamati, Chunkudi, Arpangashia, Yamuna, Sonai, Rayamangal, Morichchap, Payalavidhaut ancient town Satkhira near the Sundarbans coast of Bay of Bengal.

In ancient times Satkhira region was known as Bagri, Vyaghratat, Samatat, Jessore, Churaman etc. Historians and researchers believe that the Gangariddhi kingdom, which was formed in the Bengal region in BC, extended up to the Sundarbans. According to them, the Satkhira region was the port and trading area of that kingdom. An investigative report published in Prothom Alo newspaper recently revealed that the characteristics and construction methods of the bricks used in the Sundarbans are at least one thousand to twelve hundred years old and belong to the Pala period. Traces of settlements were found deep in the forest. From the Shyamnagar part of Satkhira in Sundarbans, 83 km from Khejurdana, Arpangashia and Shekerte on the Bay of Bengal coast, these old structures have started to come out due to the erosion of the river bank by the waves.

King Pratapaditya (1561-1611), the mighty ruler of South Bengal, had his capital at Dhumghat area of Shyamnagar in Satkhira district. His dynasty reigned for about 250 years. Most of the religious and military structures of Satkhira were established mainly in the medieval period and most of them are known as antiquities rich in terracotta art. According to the information of the Directorate of Archaeology, Khulna, a total of 14 historical antiquities of Satkhira district have been declared preserved by the Directorate of Archaeology. Meanwhile, a team from the Directorate of Archeology Khulna Regional Office has completed the updated survey work by visiting the site. Former Divisional Commissioner of Khulna Abdus Samad directed the land officials to take measures to preserve the historical and sightseeing places of their respective upazilas. According to that order, the ancient mosques, temples, hammamkhana, residence of Raja Pratapaditya, Zamindarbari Mai Champar Darga, Gazi Kalu Champavati Darga, Pratapaditya’s Garh etc. are being cleared of illegal encroachment, ie preservation, renovation and in applicable cases, work is underway to develop them as tourist centers.

Published by Bangladesh Asiatic Society. Mizanur Rahman’s ‘Antiquities of Satkhira’ (2008) is an excellent book. In this book, the researcher Mizanur Rahman has discovered about 18 structures of Satkhira chief of the medieval period (1146 to 1757 AD). Among these 18 structures are seven Shahi mosques (Sultanpur, Munsibari, Baikari, Tentulia, Prabajpur, Mautla, Tenga), six temples (Shyamsundar, Twelfth Shivabari, Gokulananda, Damrail, Jashoreswari, Gopalpur), two shrines (Gajan Pir and Nurulla Kha), Two forts or hammamkhanas (Jhajghata and Ishwaripur) and

a church (Ishwaripur).

In the 16th century AD, the first independent kings of Bengal, Vikramaditya, Pratapaditya and King Vasantha Raya built a kingdom here on the banks of the river Yamuna in the beautiful forest. Bikram Shyamnagar and his first cousin Basant Roy cleared the forest along the western bank of the Yamuna and the eastern bank of the Ichamati Kalindi river on the border of Kaliganj upazila. They include people of various religions and caste with extended family. The present Shitalpur, Basantpur, Prabajpur were prosperous states and cities of Basant Ray.

His residence is known as Basantpur. Up to the middle of the 10th century, there was a period of rajasthan in Basant. After the death of his son Kachu Roy, Mananthar and an earthquake caused the region’s upheaval towards the end of the same century. In the 19th century, Makham Lal Chandra, a nobleman of Vasant, built this Chandra Bhavan, which is now almost destroyed. During the 1971 freedom struggle, Chandra Bhavan left his property and left for India. Since then it has not been returned and it has been recorded in the name of the District Commissioner and is a private property. Every day tourists from different parts of the country come to enjoy the beauty of Chandramahal.

How to reach Chandra Bhavan: Take a bus from Satkhira Sadar to Kaliganj Bus Terminal. Then you can go to Vasantpur Chandrabhavan by auto-rickshaw or van (distance 4 km).