A 150-year-old pagoda of the Rakhine community in Dalbuganj union of Patuakhali’s Kalapara Upazila is now in a dilapidated condition due to lack of preservation.
Big chunks of plasters are constantly falling off from the pagoda. The bricks are bared and huge cracks have appeared on the walls. Moreover, the form of the huge pagoda is entirely wrapped up by the roots of a nearby Banyan tree from the top to bottom.
The century-old ancient pagoda was once crowded by the people of the Rakhine community of the area during various festivals. Apart from Kalapara, people from different parts of the country used to come to join the festivals. But, now it has become completely desolate.
On the way to Gangamati, a tourist village of Kalapara upazila, just opposite Charchapali Bazar, on the north bank of Shivbaria river, this pagoda is located in Khaprabhanga village in the union.
As the local Rakhines have gradually evacuated, the pagoda now stands as a witness to the glorious past. The pagoda is dilapidated and at extreme risk.
Uttam Bhikkhu, the head of Misripara Buddhist Monastery, said a section of the Rakhine community expelled from Arakan in the year 1784 settled on the coast of Kalapara. At that time some of them under the leadership of Rakhine Zamindar Mracha Chowdhuri settled in the village of Kaipara which is now locally known as Khaprabhanga village.
In the late eighteenth century, the Mracha Chowdhuri built the Kaipara Jedi (Khaprabhanga Pagoda). About 4 feet long and ten feet wide, the ancient architectural style of the pagoda still has eye-catching craftsmanship.
There were various mantras written in Rakhine language and colourful art designs all over the inner walls of the pagoda. There were also innumerable wooden and stone statues including the meditative statue of Gautam Buddha. Local Rakhaines used to worship in the pagoda twice a day. None of these are there now. Even, there are currently no doors in the pagoda, he added.
People from the Rakhine community said that in 2012, the border of the pagoda was demarcated with a few bamboo poles with a signboard hung on it where it was written that the pagoda is in charge of Bajanta Pragyabangsho Mahathero, the principal of Shakhyaman Buddhist Monastery in Mogaltuli village of Dabalmuring upazila of Chittagong. Now there is no bamboo fence or that signboard.
Locals said, after the independence of the country, the number of Rakhine neighborhoods and settlements gradually decreased and all kinds of festivals stopped there. However, the locals claim that if the ancient pagoda is renovated, tourists will still come there. However, road communication needs to be developed and the pagoda needs to be secured in that case.
Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Hasnat Mohammad Shahidul Haque said the oldest pagoda of Rakhine community in Kalapara would be preserved. The matter has already been reported to the district administration, he added.
