House of Jyoti Basu
Type: Building / Skyscraper
Contributed By: Nayeem
Brief
Jyoti Basu (জ্যোতি বসু) was an Indian politician belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from West Bengal, India. He served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal state from 1977 to 2000, making him the longest-serving Chief Minister in the country’s history. After suffering from Pneumonia, he died on 17 January 2010 in Kolkata.
Jyoti Basu was born 8 July 1914 in Kolkata (India) into an upper middle-class Bengali family. His father, Nishikanta Basu, was a doctor from the village of Barodi in Narayanganj District, Bangladesh, while his mother Hemalata Basu was a housewife. Basu’s early life was started in Kolkata.
Specially after his death in 2010, the place has being highlighted. Bangladesh government willingly made a memorial library which is maintained under District Administration. The seminar hall can be rent by the local people paying a small fee on daily basis.
This two storied building (House of Jyoti Basu) is still habitable. Some local people are living in it. The place is situated very near to Barodi bazar. It is almost a walking distance and you can also hire a rickshaw for 20 taka.
How to go
From Mograpara to Barodi: take a shared CNG auto rickshaw. Per person 40 taka.
How To Reach: Sonargaon Upazila
Frequent bus services to Sonargaon operate from Gulistan, Saidabad and other bus stands in Dhaka. Tickets may be bought on roadside counters. The price of the ticket from Gulistan bus stand is around 35 BDT, and the ride may take about 40 minutes, depending on the unpredictable traffic. Mention your destination as Mograpara. You can reach that place using bus from Dhaka (Gulistan). This will take you around 1 hour to reach at the place. You have to get down from the bus at Mograpara Crossing.From the crossing, you have to take a rickshaw, and have to tell the puller to drop you at Sonargaon. This will require 20 taka for the lift.
There are several Buses moving towards Sonargaon from Dhaka. Some of those are mentioned below-
1.Sonargaon Express
Departing from Gulistan
2.Borak Paribohon
Where to Stay
1. District Parishod Banglo
Sonargaon Upazila Parishad Complex
2.Gono Biddyalay
Ichapara,Sonargaon
Cell: 01712002304
3.Folk & Arts Foundation
Ichapara, Sonargaon
Cell: 027656331
Things to do
You can visit the largest Shiva sculpture in Bangladesh situated at Barodi Ashrom.
Eating Facilities
Lots of roadside local restaurants and sweetmeats. It is a Holy place for Hindu people so the bazar has turned almost a fair. Referred to where to eat at Soanargaon, click here
The splendid building still stands tall along the bank of the Kumar River beckoning the people passing by it to have a look of its grandeur and magnificence. None can resist the temptation of taking a look at the captivating old structure when one passes by it.
In the absence of proper maintenance and renovation, weeds have grown in and around the house while the mossy bricks are crumbling down from the decaying structure. The house has lost much of its charm of terracotta due to the authorities’ negligence. Locals have already taken away many of the bricks, plaques, wooden doors and windows. The house has become a safe haven for drug addicts and gamblers due to lack of proper initiatives for its preservation and maintenance. Local people use the building as their cowshed and it has turned into the public toilet.
