Dinajpur: The historic century-old Zamindar Suresh Chandra Public Library, located on the banks of the Chhoto Jamuna River in Phulbari upazila of the district, is on the verge of extinction due to prolonged neglect, lack of maintenance and absence of regular funding.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Phulbari upazila BNP president and former Principal of Mohila College Md Khurshid Alam Moti stated that the traditional public library, situated within the Phulbari Municipality area, once played a vital role in spreading knowledge among local people. However, due to negligence and carelessness during the rule of the previous government, the library has now reached a critical stage.
The matter was recently brought to the attention of the Phulbari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), urging immediate steps to protect and revive the institution. At the beginning of the new year, a formal presentation was made to UNO Hasan Ahmed, who reportedly assured that initiatives would be taken to keep the library operational during its centenary year.
Seventy-five-year-old retired schoolteacher Md Jamil Uddin expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the library, emphasizing the potential loss of history and heritage for future generations. He described the current state of the library as resembling an “abandoned haunted house,” with vines covering the walls and a courtyard filled with weeds.
According to historical records preserved by Jamil Uddin, the library was established in 1916 in Sujapur village on the west bank of the Chhoto Jamuna River at the initiative of then Phulbari Zamindar Suresh Chandra Roy and his son Khitis Chandra Roy. Built adjacent to Sujapur High School, it aimed to address the shortage of textbooks and reading materials for poor and ordinary students.
At its peak, the library housed a vast collection of books spanning various subjects. However, its decline began over the years, exacerbated by the War of Liberation in 1971 when Pakistani forces set fire to the library. Reconstruction efforts in 2011 saw the construction of a new building and renovation of the old structure, with additional contributions in subsequent years.
Despite these efforts, the library once again fell into decline due to lack of funds for staff salaries and maintenance. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a theft in January 2023 further crippled its operations.
Phulbari UNO Hasan Ahmed said he had recently visited the library and instructed the management committee to clean the premises and make arrangements to reopen it. He also assured that initiatives would be taken gradually to address manpower shortages and other challenges.
Local residents and intellectuals have urged the authorities to take immediate and sustainable measures to save the historic library, describing it as an invaluable symbol of the region’s educational and cultural heritage.