United News of Bangladesh

Despite the government’s declaration of Savar upazila as a ‘degraded airshed’, brick kilns in the area continue operating openly, raising serious concerns over air pollution in Dhaka. The move, intended to protect the capital’s northern entry points, appears to have little effect on kiln owners, who are finding ways to circumvent official orders. On August 17, 2025, the government formally designated the entire Savar upazila as a ‘degraded air shed’ under the Air Pollution (Control) Rules, 2022, explicitly banning all brick-burning and brick-manufacturing activities. The decision followed mounting evidence that emissions from kilns in Savar significantly worsened air quality in Dhaka, especially during the dry season, posing grave health risks to the city’s densely populated residents. Read more: Illegal brick kilns in Khulna: A silent peril to environment and public health Yet, local residents and environmental activists report that many brick kiln owners treat the government’s circular as mere paperwork. Although authorities demolished chimneys of several kilns late last year, many have been rebuilt and resumed operations. According to the latest data up to June 2025, Savar hosts 86 brick kilns, including 59 licensed and 27 unlicensed facilities. In the Turag River area near Ashulia Bazar, brick burning remains widespread. Ashulia Bricks and MCB Bricks, in particular, have continued production since the start of the season. During a recent visit to Ashulia Bricks, hundreds of workers were observed manufacturing raw bricks, transporting them, and stacking finished products near the kiln. On the opposite side, others were removing fired bricks from the furnace. Read more: Tk 20 crore fines imposed in nationwide anti-pollution drives When contacted, Ashulia Bricks manager Md Madhu Mia defended the operation, saying, “The government has done its job and we are doing ours. We have already spent a lot of money on labour and other sectors. If we shut down the kiln, recovering that investment would be impossible. That’s why we were compelled to continue. We have communicated with various parties and they assured us.”

As the vast haor waters slowly recede, life in Sunamganj’s low-lying wetlands is once again defined by urgency, mud and relentless labour by farmers. Across the district, farmers have plunged into the Boro cultivation season, racing against a narrow planting window that will determine their livelihoods for the year ahead. From one upazila to another, the haor landscape has turned vibrant with activity. Knee-deep in muddy water, farmers and agricultural labourers work from dawn to dusk, transplanting paddy seedlings on freshly exposed land. Shantiganj, Tahirpur, Madhyanagar, Dharmapasha, Shalla and Jamalganj are among the upazilas where the seasonal rush is most visible. According to the District Agriculture Department, seedlings have already been planted on 1.53 lakh hectares of land in Sunamganj. Read more: Jujube cultivation brings new prosperity to Cumilla’s Shikarpur village With haor waters withdrawing gradually, farmers are making full use of every available day to ensure timely transplantation and a successful harvest. Boro cultivation in the haor region typically begins after floodwaters recede, following the preparation of seedbeds in November and December. This year, soil testing has been completed in advance, and required fertilisers, including urea, TSP, DAP, MOP and gypsum, have been applied as per recommendations. Farmers are cultivating a mix of high-yielding and hybrid rice varieties, including BRRI dhan-28, BRRI dhan-29, BRRI dhan-89 and BRRI dhan-92. If weather conditions remain favourable, rice ears are expected to emerge in April-May, marking the crucial phase when grains mature ahead of harvest. Yet the physical toll of the season is unmistakable. Despite the biting winter cold, labourers stand for hours in icy water, trampling mud to plant seedlings by hand. For many, agriculture is the only means of survival, leaving little room for rest. “I work from 8am till evening for a daily wage of Tk 600 and one meal,” said Ibrahim Mia, a farmer from Khushdar Haor in Lalpur village. “Even in severe winters, we have to trample mud in water. We are poor people and survive through hard labour.” Like many others, Ibrahim hopes that good yields and fair market prices will reward their effort. “If we get proper prices, farmers will be more motivated,” he said. Read more: Haor regions to see controlled pesticide use in upcoming Boro season Officials say the Boro season is not only vital for food production but also creates seasonal employment in the haor belt. Deputy Director of the Sunamganj District Agricultural Extension Department Mohammad Omar Faruk said Boro remains the district’s main cropping season. “Workers from different districts have come to Sunamganj to take part in the planting activities,” he said, adding, “They are earning between Tk 600 and Tk 800 per day, which has created temporary employment opportunities in the haor areas.” He said the Boro cultivation target for the current season has been set at 2,23,505 hectares, with planting already completed on about 1,53,000 hectares. As farmers push forward against time, cold and uncertainty, the receding haor waters signal both hope and hardship, a familiar rhythm in Sunamganj, where the success of the Boro season shapes food security and livelihoods for thousands. Read more: Kushtia farmers upset over canal blockage, fear permanent waterlogging

For generations, Amnura railway junction has connected people, markets and livelihoods across Chapainawabganj and now this station stands worn and overlooked. Established in 1909 as part of the Abdulpur–Malda railway line, the once-busy junction has gradually lost its significance. The passenger shed at the station was declared abandoned around one and a half decades ago. Since then, travelers have been forced to wait for trains under the open sky, exposed to scorching heat, rain and cold. Jujube cultivation brings new prosperity to Cumilla’s Shikarpur village The station area lacks even the most basic facilities, including safe drinking water, toilets and proper seating arrangements.

Bangladesh recorded a historic $17.17 billion in inward remittances during the first six months and seven days of fiscal year 2025–26, underscoring the resilience of overseas earnings and providing crucial support to the country’s foreign exchange reserves amid global trade headwinds. The inflow marks a strong year-on-year increase from the same period of FY2024–25, when remittances totalled about $14.31 billion. The latest figure represents an additional $2.86 billion, or nearly 19.9 percent growth, building on momentum from FY25, a record year in which annual remittances crossed the $30 billion threshold for the first time. Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan attributed the sustained growth to a combination of structural and policy-driven factors. Read more: Bangladesh sees $1.12bn in remittances in first 10 days of January He cited restored confidence in formal remittance channels following the political transitions in late 2024, which prompted a shift away from the illegal “hundi” system. Improved transparency and a growing sense of economic patriotism among expatriates have encouraged greater use of banking channels, he said. The stabilisation of the taka against the US dollar has also played a critical role, reducing speculative behaviour. With a market-based exchange rate now in place, remitters are no longer delaying transfers in anticipation of sudden currency depreciation. Government incentives remain another key driver, with the continued 2.5 percent cash incentive encouraging low-income migrant workers to send money through official platforms. Besides, expanded digital remittance services, including mobile financial services and fintech solutions, have made transfers faster and more accessible, particularly for workers in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Bangladesh received $2.47 billion in remittances in July, $2.42 billion in August, $2.68 billion in September, $2.56 billion in October, $2.88 billion in November, and $3.22 billion in December. The data show an average monthly inflow of more than $2.42 billion over the past six months. This strong remittance performance is influencing policymakers to reconsider borrowing from the International Monetary Fund under stringent conditions. Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), told UNB that the remittance surge is offsetting recent weakness in the export sector, which showed a slight contraction in December 2025. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and local economists, robust remittance inflows are expected to be a key driver of consumption and GDP growth in 2026. As of early January 2026, Bangladesh’s gross foreign exchange reserves have benefited significantly from the inflows, standing at around $33 billion under traditional calculation, providing the government with added fiscal space to manage external debt obligations and import costs, he said. Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank Limited (MTB), said confidence in the banking system has been restored, prompting expatriates to remit funds through formal channels. He noted that exchange rate stability and a normalised curb market have reduced the appeal of hundi transactions, which deprive remitters of the 2.5 percent incentive or more. Read more: Remittance inflow exceeds $632 million in first six days of December “In such a situation, sending remittance through illegal hundi is a loss for remitters,” he said. Mahbubur Rahman added that Bangladesh Bank’s policy measures have further encouraged migrant workers and non-resident Bangladeshis to send their hard-earned money through legal channels.

Shikarpur village in Barura upazila of Cumilla district is witnessing a quiet agricultural revolution as jujube orchards transform the rural landscape and uplift farmers’ incomes. Once a traditional farming community, the village has now become a hub for cultivating Ball Sundari, Bari Sundari and Kashmiri varieties of jujube. The success of jujube cultivation in Shikarpur is gradually spreading to neighbouring villages, attracting farmers eager to tap into the lucrative market. Many of these farmers had spent years abroad before returning home, drawn to jujube farming as a promising alternative to conventional crops. Read more: Sirajganj’s mustard fields bloom into golden seas, promise bumper harvest A winter morning visit to the village offers a picturesque scene: sunlight filters softly through the crisp air, illuminating clusters of ripe jujubes that hang from branches bending under their weight. Farmers are busy plucking fruits, weighing them for buyers and savouring the freshly harvested sweetness during short breaks. Ramiz Uddin, a farmer who returned after nearly 20 years abroad, credits his success to the guidance of his brother, Suruj Mia, an established jujube grower. “In the first year, I cultivated jujubes on 18 decimals of land. Seeing good profits, I expanded cultivation to another 32 decimals,” he said, adding that today many farmers consult him for advice. Alongside jujubes, Ramiz also grows a variety of vegetables. Abdur Razzak, another local farmer, highlighted the profitability of the crop. “Shikarpur has become widely known for jujube production. Compared to other crops, jujube farming is far more profitable. Three of us brothers cultivated jujubes on 60 decimals of land. Our cost was about Tk 1,50,000, while sales are expected to reach Tk 5,00,000,” he said. He also credited the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for guidance, which helped them achieve good yields. The popularity of jujube cultivation is crossing village borders. Junab Ali, a farmer from Joykamata, said he started cultivating jujubes after bringing saplings from Shikarpur three years ago. “I began with 22 decimals in the first year, expanded by another 22 decimals in the second year, and this year I cultivated an additional 16 decimals,” he said. Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan of the DAE confirmed that jujube cultivation began in Shikarpur four years ago, with Suruj Mia being the pioneer. Read more: Chapainawabganj farmer sparks local excitement with amazing Chinese orange harvest “Seeing his success, other farmers, including Ramiz Uddin and Abdur Razzak, also became interested. From the beginning, we have been providing advice and assistance. Today, jujube is being cultivated on 20 acres in this village. Its popularity is now spreading to neighbouring areas, offering new hope for sustainable rural livelihoods,” he said. Shikarpur’s jujube orchards are not just changing the scenery—they are reshaping the local economy, turning a once-sleepy village into a centre of agricultural innovation and prosperity, he added.

The interim government has taken up a water management initiative in the hill district of Rangamati to ensure sustainable water supply, protect riverbanks and improve livelihoods in one of the country’s most environmentally fragile regions, according to officials. They said the project, titled ‘Sustainable Water Management of the Karnaphuli and Associated Rivers in Rangamati Hill District’, will be implemented by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) under the Ministry of Water Resources at an estimated cost of Tk 687.39 crore, fully funded by the government. Implementation is scheduled from January 2026 to June 2030 and will cover 10 upazilas of Rangamati district, according to the project document. Officials said the project is crucial for securing surface water availability in the hill district, where communities largely depend on rivers and streams for drinking water, irrigation, fisheries and transportation. Read more: Govt cuts Tk 12,000cr from top development projects over slow progress The Karnaphuli River and its associated rivers—Kachalong, Raikhyang and Shalak—serve as lifelines for the region, particularly during the dry season when water scarcity becomes acute. According to the project outline, one of the key objectives is to restore and maintain navigability and year-round water flow in the feeder rivers of Kaptai Lake through extensive dredging. The Kachalong, Raikhyang and Shalak rivers will be dredged to remove accumulated silt, helping to reduce sudden flooding during the monsoon while ensuring adequate water supply during the dry months. Water resources officials said sustained water flow in these rivers is essential for maintaining water levels in Kaptai Lake, which feeds the country’s only hydroelectric power station. Improved water availability is also expected to support fisheries, a major source of livelihood for hill communities, and enhance surface irrigation for agriculture in downstream areas. Read more: Rangamati: IG goes where no govt has gone before, with water management initiative for Rangamati The project also aims to excavate and re-excavate river-linked canals to improve surface irrigation and address chronic waterlogging in low-lying areas. Many canals in Rangamati have lost their capacity due to long-term siltation, disrupting water distribution and limiting agricultural production, particularly in the dry season. In addition to water supply, the project places strong emphasis on riverbank protection. About 13.72 kilometres of riverbank protection works will be carried out to safeguard critical infrastructure, educational institutions and settlements from erosion along the Karnaphuli and its tributaries. Riverbank erosion has emerged as a persistent threat in Rangamati, especially during the monsoon when heavy rainfall and upstream flows cause rivers to swell and change course. Officials said that the Karnaphuli is the only riverine communication route between Barkal upazila and Rangamati district headquarters, making bank protection vital for maintaining connectivity and access to essential services. They said special attention will be given to the border-adjacent Thegamukh area along the India-Bangladesh frontier, where aggressive river erosion has endangered public installations, including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) facilities, local markets and schools. Read more: DWASA moves to set up Tk 721cr training, research academy Riverbank protection in this area is expected to help prevent further land loss and protect national territory. Project documents note that changes in the river system date back to the construction of the Kaptai Dam in the 1960s, which altered the natural flow of the Karnaphuli and its tributaries. Since then, sediment carried during the monsoon has been depositing in riverbeds and Kaptai Lake, gradually reducing water depth and flow capacity. As a result, navigation becomes extremely difficult during February to April, often isolating remote communities and increasing transport costs for essential goods. Farmers also suffer due to the absence of water in canals during the dry season, leading to reduced agricultural output. The proposed interventions are based on recommendations from a feasibility study conducted by the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) titled Feasibility Study for the Development & Management of Karnafully River Basin (With Halda River). The study identified erosion-prone zones and highlighted the need for integrated river training, dredging and canal excavation to ensure sustainable water management in Rangamati. Officials believe that once implemented, the project will significantly improve water security in the hill district, ensuring reliable surface water supply for domestic use, agriculture, fisheries and power generation. Read more: A costly bridge in Manikganj waiting for roads Improved river flow and connectivity are also expected to boost tourism, while construction activities and expanded economic opportunities will contribute to employment generation and overall socio-economic development in the region. With climate variability increasing pressure on hill ecosystems, authorities view the project as a strategic investment to balance development needs with long-term water sustainability in Rangamati.

Life across all five upazilas of northern Lalmonirhat has slowed to a shiver as the biting cold of Poush tightens its grip.  With an unrelenting cold wave sweeping the region, quilts and mattresses have become the primary shield against the freezing nights, leaving local quilt makers with barely a moment to breathe. Read more: Cold wave disrupts life, livelihoods across northern Bangladesh At haat-bazars and roadside shops across Lalmonirhat Sadar and surrounding areas, business is booming.  From dawn to deep night, the courtyards of quilt makers echo with the rhythmic khat-khat of sewing machines, as artisans wash cotton, stuff layers and stitch tirelessly to keep up with soaring demand. Over the past few days of continuous cold, demand for quilts and mattresses in rural areas has multiplied several times.  Artisans say that while much of the year passes in relative idleness, these three winter months are their main earning season.  The workload has now become so intense that many shops are struggling to find time even for meals.  Alongside new quilts, there is a rush of customers bringing old ones for repairs or refilling with fresh cotton. A visit to Tushbhandar Bazaar in Kaliganj upazila reveals clear class-based preferences. Low-income buyers are opting for cheaper quilts made from recycled cotton, while middle-income families prefer kapash or shimul cotton.  However, rising prices of cotton and fabric have made quilts more expensive across the board. Customer Malek Mia said, “Compared to last year, it now costs Tk 300 to Tk 500 more to make a quilt. With prices rising everywhere, surviving has become increasingly difficult for ordinary people like us.” Veteran artisan Solaiman Ali of Kaliganj said each craftsman is producing three to four quilts a day, yet meeting delivery deadlines has become a struggle.  Quilt makers in Lalmonirhat swamped with orders as winter sets in “As the cold intensifies, the pile of orders keeps growing,” he said. Trader Samad Mia noted that depending on quality, the cost of making a quilt now ranges between Tk 1,500 and Tk 2,000. Due to the higher price of shimul cotton, many customers are choosing kapash cotton as an alternative. Meanwhile, members of the local civil society have called for stronger winter relief efforts for the poor and destitute.  The Lalmonirhat district administration has already begun distributing blankets, offering some relief amid one of the harshest winter spells of the season.    

A routine waste clean-up announcement has sparked deep anxiety among traders at Kusumpur Bazar in Maheshpur upazila, with many fearing that the initiative could be used as a pretext to evict long-standing businesses from the market. Traders alleged that the newly appointed market lessee, backed by a section of local influencers, is attempting to exploit the clean-up drive to dismantle selected shops and gain control of valuable government-owned khas land. According to local sources, Kusumpur Bazar has grown over the years on both private and government land.  Many traders have been operating for decades after constructing shops on khas land, while some private landowners have also expanded their establishments by encroaching on adjoining government land. Read more: Master plan soon for waste management in divisional cities, municipalities : Rizwana For years, waste has been dumped on a stretch of khas land on one side of the market. Last Friday, the Kusumpur Land Office carried out a miking campaign, announcing that the accumulated waste would be removed. Traders, however, claimed the announcement was made strategically, raising fears that it could pave the way for selective evictions rather than a neutral clean-up operation. Several traders alleged that under the guise of waste removal, certain individuals were attempting to seize control of prime khas land in collusion with a section of the local administration. Local sources further alleged that pharmacy trader Zulfiqar Ali Zulu was involved in efforts to take over government land within the market area. They also claimed that a number of businessmen,  including Shamsul Haque Bado, Jalal Uddin Biswas, Qutub Uddin Biswas, Mohiuddin Biswas, Siddiqur Rahman, Anarul Master, Masud Ali, Md Nayan, Salauddin Jewel, Md Rahman, Jahangir Ali, Montu Mandal, Momin Rahman, Farzan Ali and Rabiul Islam Robal, have constructed shops by occupying portions of khas land. Read more: DNCC to develop modern waste management system beside existing Amin Bazar LFS Traders argued that if these lands or establishments had been formally allocated, the government could have earned revenue worth crores of taka. Speaking on condition of anonymity, several traders said that many people are currently benefiting from the occupation of khas land in the market.  They stressed that any eviction drive must be fair and uniform. “Targeting only a few shops will create tension and may lead to clashes in the market,” one trader warned. Responding to the allegations, Zulfiqar Ali Zulu said that the occupation of khas land has existed for years, while some parts of the land remain unused or controlled by only one or two individuals. He argued that reclaiming unused land could allow for the construction of new shops and categorically denied all allegations against him. Assistant Officer of the Kusumpur Land Office, Zulfiqar Ali, said the miking campaign was conducted solely to remove waste and dirt from the market area. He said the district administration plans to carry out similar clean-up drives across all upazilas, including all markets in Maheshpur. “There has been no announcement or instruction to evict any shops,” he said, adding that some shops built on khas land adjacent to the market would be surveyed to ensure compliance with existing regulations. Read more: Jhenaidah’s heritage sites: Glory fading into dust Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Maheshpur Upazila, Istiak Ahmed, also dismissed fears of land grabbing under the pretext of waste removal. “There is no scope to occupy land in the name of cleaning. The matter will be communicated to the Kusumpur Land Office to ensure that no one illegally occupies government land," he said. 

More than 15 months after the government imposed a ban on polythene in retail markets, the banned plastic continues to be widely used across city streets and rural bazars in Bangladesh, reflecting weak enforcement and easy availability, according to market observers and industry insiders. “Across Dhaka and other major towns, shoppers leave markets with bags full of banned polythene, with neither sellers nor buyers appearing to exercise caution or awareness,” said Hasan Shahriar, businessman. Despite laws existing for over two decades, he said, polythene remains a persistent feature of daily commerce. Analysts, including environmentalists and journalists, insist that without robust enforcement, assured alternative supplies, and a crackdown on entrenched syndicates, the country’s attempts to curb plastic usage are doomed to repeatedly falter. Read more: Lack of coordination dooms govt drive against polythene, single-use plastics Fighting for environmental protection requires more than legislation; it needs pragmatic planning and political will, they said. On the Ground: Polythene in Every Stall Field visits to Dhaka’s markets reveal that fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, and groceries are all still sold in polythene. Vendors cite its low cost, availability, and convenience as key reasons for continuing its use, while buyers face no additional cost. In contrast, alternatives such as paper, cloth, or jute bags remain largely absent. Some supermarkets in the capital have reportedly reduced polythene usage, but the change has yet to spread widely. Before the interim government’s enforcement drive, several rounds of consultations took place with environmental advisers and stakeholders. Traders were given deadlines to comply with the ban, yet polythene reappears in large markets, bazaars, and alleyways shortly after enforcement actions. Vendors argue that without viable alternatives, they are compelled to continue using polythene. Environmental authorities maintain that all efforts are being made to eliminate its use. Law Exists, Enforcement Lags Bangladesh first banned polythene production, marketing, and distribution in 2002 under the Environmental Conservation Act, which criminalised general polythene bag use. In 2024, the interim government renewed the ban, effective from 1 October, prohibiting polythene bags in supermarkets nationwide. From 1 November, nationwide enforcement extended to all bazaars and retail outlets, outlawing production, sale, storage, transport and use of polythene and polypropylene shopping bags. Read more: Rizwana for developing habit of using cloth, jute bags instead of polythene In practice, however, the ban has been largely symbolic. While initial enforcement was stringent, compliance waned within days, and polythene quickly returned to the market. Numbers Are Stark Research indicates that nearly 3,000 factories in Bangladesh produce millions of polythene bags daily. In Dhaka alone, approximately 20 million bags are generated each day. Around 80% of the population relies on polythene or plastic products in some form, placing Bangladesh among the world’s most plastic-polluted countries. Open Factories in Old Dhaka Despite the ban, hundreds of polythene factories operate openly in areas such as Debidashghat Lane, Gani Miar Hat, and Larkipotti in Old Dhaka. Locals claim that these syndicates maintain operations with tacit administrative approval. A 2025 raid on an illicit factory in Chawkbazar, during which environmental officers were attacked, underscored the syndicates’ reach. Monitoring and Enforcement Director Shawkat Ali suffered serious injuries in the incident. A Lack of Alternatives Markets, including Karwanbazar, Kitchen Market, and Muslim Bazar show near-universal polythene use. A vegetable vendor told UNB, “If I don’t give polythene, customers will go elsewhere. Paper or jute bags simply aren’t available in the market.” Read more: Jute: The Greenest Alternative to Plastic Bags Buyers echo this, noting that bans alone cannot suffice without affordable, practical alternatives. Many alternative bags in supermarkets remain beyond the reach of ordinary consumers. Environmental and Health Risks Prof Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar of Stamford University, and Director of CAPS, told UNB that polythene harms the environment in three key ways: soil pollution, blocked drains causing waterlogging, and ineffective waste management. When burned, it releases toxic gases; in water, it degrades quality. When it enters the food chain, it increases risks of cancer and other diseases. He stressed that effective reduction requires alternatives that are cheap, portable, and suitable for wet goods. “Without such options, bans are ineffective,” he said. Preparedness Gaps Lead to Failure Former Additional Director of the Department of Environment, Engineer Md. Abdus Sobhan, told UNB that the sudden announcement of the ban without preparation was the primary cause of failure. “Markets lacked alternatives, administrative capacity was limited, and coordination among law enforcement was weak,” he said. Read more: Govt to distribute jute bags at subsidised rates: Adviser Rizwana Alamgir Kabir, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Environmental Movement, added that polythene can only be eliminated permanently if low-cost, easily accessible alternatives are provided. “If jute bags cost twice as much, people will never adopt them,” he warned. Government Response Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Environmental Adviser, told UNB that the government is striving to enforce the law. “Supermarkets in Dhaka no longer provide polythene. Implementing the ban across the country is challenging, but we have started. The next elected government can continue implementation.” She stressed that public awareness is vital, and a ‘polythene-free daily’ mindset must be cultivated. Md Ziaul Haque, Additional Director of the Department of Environment, said enforcement continues through awareness campaigns and mobile courts, alongside attempts to disrupt the supply chain. “Trucks carrying polythene from Dhaka to other regions have been intercepted, and factories temporarily shut down. We will resume these operations swiftly,” he added.

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. Read more: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bangladesh 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.”