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| Munshiganj: | The ............ (2/10/05 to 3/09/05) | |
| Dhaka Division Dhaka Faridpur Gazipur Gopalganj Jamalpur Kishoreganj Madaripur Manikganj Munshiganj Mymensingh Narayanganj Narsingdi Netrokona Rajbari Shariatpur Sherpur Tangail Chittagong Division Khulna Division Rajshahi Division Barisal Division Sylhet Division |
It was nearly an hour or more the ferry reached at the Mawa Ghat. It was an entrance point of Louhajang Upazila at Munshiganj District. As we planned at ferry according to our map we decide to cycle along Tongibari and Munshiganj Sadar Upazila by crossing Louhajang Sadar. So, we asked a few people what would be our way towards Louhajang Upazila Sadar (Sadar=Center of any District, County, Province, etc). Though it was dark but we were very much interested to cycle a bit more as we did not cycle for nearly three hours or more. We had some energy and we wanted to be advance as long as our body will support. The people around Ghat told us to follow the main road and advised us to ask other people whenever there will be any subway. They warned us to be careful about going wrong direction as it was dark out there. So, we start cycling very slowly towards Louhajang Upazila. Within five to ten minutes we found that the road was very dark and only a few lights we could see after some long pause. We were too much careful about the road. Whenever we find any people we asked them to confirm if we were in the right track. Anyway around one hour of cycling we saw light of the residential area at Upazila's Sadar. We thanked God as we did not get lost and regret our decision to cycle in this dark night. We entered a village market and asked people about the office of Head Administrative Officer of that Upazila who was known locally as UNO. They questioned us in return why we were looking for his office. When we describe our intension they told us that there is no such thing in this Upazila. There were offices and other things in this Upazila but now all of those establishments are under the river for last few years. We asked them if there are any hotels or other accommodations facility they have here. They answered negative. For some moments we were feeling hopeless. The nearest accommodation facility from there was the ferry ghat we left behind, others are far away than that. But the people were so helpful that they expressed their intension to open the school's room for us to accommodate ourselves for the night. As we had nothing but a pillow for sleeping arrangement we were not sure what to do. When I asked talked with my team members we decide that we will cycle back to Mawa Ghat. But the problem was there to return at right direction. The villagers told us that we might not found anyone at the road at this time of night and we might go to wrong direction. But as wished to return strongly than to staying at a school room they brought a Rickshaw-puller to show us the way. We agreed to pay him a fare for two ways as he has to come back by leading us to Mawa ghat. So, we tell them goodbye and start following the lights on the back of that Rickshaw. Less than an hour we reached at Mawa Ghat and select "Mawa Boarding" to pass the night. It was nice little two-storied boarding built mostly by wood. We took some rooms at top floor. The owner of the boarding was there. When they got our identity and knew our intension they start to give us some extra care than they give their clients. Our team completes showering while I was managing supper for them with some regular medicine for Angela. The friend of the boarding owner helped me a lot while I was doing these. Without his help things could have been harder for me to arrange. He was accompanying me al the time. He instructs other staffs of the boarding to co-operate with us fully. He also took some care while they were having their supper and I was taking bath. Our team was very happy that they returned and this kind of hospitality and honour. We could never get this kind of attentions from them if were here to pass the night as a normal guest. They kept our cycles at a safe place and confirmed us that we will get our cycles no matter how early we will start our tour at morning. After finishing my supper I find my team asleep but I start to have a chat with him. He showed me the area around ghat and describes lots of things of that area. After spending two hours with him he told me to sleep and I was also feeling a bit tired. We went to our rooms. At morning I was a bit late to awake and my partners knock at my room. We get ready and saying to goodbye to all the staffs of the boarding we start for Munshiganj DC office. The approach road from ferry ghat till main road was muddy and full with traffic jam. It took us thirty minutes to reach at main road which should have taken maximum twelve to fifteen minutes. We entered at a restaurant to have our breakfast before the main road starts. After eating we start cycling again. We were cycling beside the Padma River and the wind was blowing from the opposite side towards us. We paddle too hard to keep our cycles running. After cycling a lot suddenly we saw a huge natural garden of Kashful (One kind of flower). Angela was excited and wanted to enter there while I find it a perfect stoppage for rest and relaxing point for our body. The garden was a bit down on a slope from the road. I waited at the road to guard the cycles and luggage’s and all of them entered the garden. We took lots of photo and after half an hour we continued our journey. Suddenly the rain starts and we used our raincoat. When the rain stopped we took of the upper parts of raincoat but waited for the rain to restart. All the days pass by like this. We passed the Louhajang Upazila, Tongibari Upazila, crossed Dhaleshwari River and reached at Munshiganj Sadar Upazila later. Soon we start to ask people about the location of DC office. On our way I noticed that Dilip and Angela are not talking to any of us for a long time which was very much unusual for their characters. So, I advised Rana silently to cycle beside Dilip and I accompany Angela. Angela asks me to cycle faster and so I did. Dilip was cycling slowly and so Rana was doing same to be with Dilip. I just mentioned them to meet us at DC office and cycling faster with Angela to cheer her up. We were cycling in this mood for more than half an hour. Suddenly the phone rang and Dilip informed me that they have been stopped by the local police. The police did not believe them as I was carrying all the papers. So, we cycle back to their location and meet the in-charge of that spot. It was a sudden check post for any suspicious people they might notice. I asked the officer to release Dilip and Rana if they are not having any strong reason to hold them. I offered them to check our luggages. They did so but did not get anything offensive. But they were not interested to release them. I showed them all the papers we had but still they were not interested. They even said they have a doubt we are showing some fake papers. Upon that I told them either to check our papers right then or to escort us till DC office. Because we were interested to go to Chadpur District on that day. But they said that till their duty is finished they will hold us at that point and after that they will take us to the police station. The officers over there can decide if they will release us or hold captive. So, I asked them to phone any of those officers as that was not a good thing they were keeping us captive. They said strait they will not do so. So, I told them that they will be sorry if they will waste our time without any specific reason. Because we are ready to go under through any test by them but not ready to wait whole day long for the finishing of their duty time to check our papers. If they will do so I will demand all the expenses of mine for those times. Maybe now they were a bit confused and phoned to one of their officer on patrol describing everything. He came within five minutes and after some conversation he realized that they his men were arguing illogically. So, he asked us to continue our cycling and said that there is a security emergency running all over the country. I assured him that if he wants to check our paper we can wait but we will not waste three or four hours just by standing there. Because I showed them the way that only one phone call with five to minutes would be needed for our identity with motto. More than an hour of our time wasted here. Soon we arrived at DC office and meet the CA (Secretary of DC). He told us that DC has left office and there is nothing he can do. So, I went to the room of NDC and ask him to help us. I said that if we can get the paper today and catch the last launch towards Chandpur then we will not need any kind of accommodation facility here. He agreed and asks us to wait for some more. Soon he managed the papers and tells us that we can still catch the launch as it is on six o'clock. He told us that he has also informed the authority of the ghat and they will help us accordingly. I took the direction towards launch ghat from him and went downstairs. We took photo at DC office and went to launch ghat. When we reached there and talked to the person who received the phone told us to wait at ghat. He mentioned that the launch will come nearly one hour late. So, we went to a restaurant nearby and had a late lunch. After six o’clock the launch came and people were jumping from the launch and to the launch. We were worried about pulling our cycles and luggage’s to the launch as it was always moving a bit due to the wave. But the person we contact previously assured us that the launch will not leave the ghat before we will ride. Every time it halts at ghat for a few minute but today it will leave ghat after he will be told by the authority and we don’t have to take any risk. Soon the jumping of crowd becomes still and we were able to ride in the launch very easily. There ghat authority told us that they are sorry for not having any vacant cabin but as a courtesy they will not charge anything as fare for the dock. We thanked them and kept our cycles tied in the dock. Then we went at the front of that multi-storied launch with our luggages to view the river at night. After half an hour Rana came and informed us that we might get the personal cabin of a launch staff but we have to pay something personally. All of us agreed as needed some rests and even the breeze was very cold at front of the launch. We occupied the cabin. Though it was a cabin for a single person but all of us managed to sit inside by being to close to each other. Imagine four people sitting in a single bed. Amazing! |
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