With the looming modernisation, the traditional, serene mud-built houses of rural Barind region in Rajshahi, Bogura, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts are being replaced by brick-cement and tiles built buildings. The mud-built houses are regarded to possess 'automatic air conditioning' system of controlling the temperature, e.g., cool during the summer and warm during the winter. People living in the mud built houses are also learnt to enjoy a healthy life with a vigorous, serene mental peace, a fresh heart with a tranquil, sound sleep. For thousands of years, these mud built houses, even most of those multistoried, were the only means of living for the people of the region. But, now a days those traditional houses are getting extinct and within next twenty to thirty year, these unique mud built houses will be a part of our memory only. Already the artisans who used to made those mud-built houses have either passed away or took to other professions as no one wants to make a 'cheap' mud-built house further.
According to sources, the average income of a section of people have been increased and no one is interested to make the mud-built house rather they are building comparatively strong, beautifully designed brick, concrete and tiles built houses by spending a huge sum of money.
It is learnt, front the time immemorial, the Barind region of Rajshahi was inhibited by people with enriched culture and tradition. The mud-built house artisans made the plinth of the house with sticky soil, three to four feet width of wall, all made of hard-mud. The walls were usually 10 to 12 feet in height on which rows of wooden or bamboo ceilings were set. Over these ceilings conical shaped straw or tin roofs were set.
Still in some places of Tanore, Godagari of Rajshahi and in places of Bogura district, mud built houses are seen. Many of those are two or three storied houses containing granaries, kitchens, wash rooms and high boundary walls. The doors and windows of those houses are also made of wood and wooden grills. An artisan with four to five helpers would take four to six months to make a four roomed house (12 feet by 12 feet each room). Housewives used to paint outer walls and inner walls of those rooms with clay, chalks and charcoal dust.
Abdul Hamid of Bazratek village under Bholahat upazila under Chapainawabganj district informed, the mud built house he used to live now is belonged to his dead grand-father. After the death of his grandfather, his father used to live in that house and now he is living in this house. He said, the unique mud built house he is now living with his family is still excellent in condition. He added, he will not destroy the house rather he would preserve the house as a memorabilia of his forefathers so that his next generations could feel proud to have such a unique establishment.
Vadu Mia of Ali Sahashpur village informed, the mud build house is always cool and fresh. It is still warm inside during the chilly winter. Whenever you enter the mud-house from outside, your body and mind is filled with a refreshing feeling which is not found inside the brick-concrete built house.
Sharif Ali(45) of Bholahat upazila informed, though the mud-built house is comfortable for living, with the passage of time, most of the abled people are building brick built concrete houses by demolishing the mud ones mainly for the reason of security and the 'prestige' competition. Still in rural areas people living in mud-houses are regarded 'non-elites and poor' whatever rich they are! Even during making a matrimonial proposal, people are reluctant to arrange marriage to their offsprings with the residents of mud houses, added Sharif Ali.
