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| Rangamati: | The ............ (5/10/05 to ~~/~~/~~) | |
| 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 |
I start cycling again after the ferry reached at opposite side of the river and soon came to a point where the road got divided. I asked some people sitting under a huge tree (I suppose it was a Banyan Tree) about the roads as the road was divided in two seperate directions. Pointing their finger they told me to follow one road and I start cycling towards there. I did not give them a chance to ask me from where I came as I was afraid if I could get any places to pass the night at this hill district. About 4 o'clock I saw a police station beside the road and understood that I should be very nearby to the heart of Kaptai Upazila. I saw a milestone showing the distance of Rangamati Zero Point and thought it would be impossible for me to cross that distance before Sunset. Still I sat at a tea shop and asked a person if there is any hotel/motel and the conditions of the road from here to Rangamati. They told me that there is no facility for the accommodation I will get on the way before Rangamati. Moreover the roads before Rangamati are full with huge ups and downs. So I asked them about the location of Dakbunlow of Kaptai Upazila or the office of the UNO. They told me that it is within my reach of a minutes cycling. I Ride on my bike and before 60 seconds I saw the sign of UNO offfice by taking a single turn. I looked for UNO but he was not there. Still I introduce myself and ask them to give me the location of UNO's residence. One of them at the office told me to go to the Dakbunglow first. He told me that if I meet the caretaker of Dakbunglow then he would possibly escort me to the residence of UNO as he should be informed first from UNO to open a room for me. The Dakbunglow was exactly at the opposite side of the UNO office. So, I went there and looked for him. After some minutes I got him and he was very co-operative. He looked at my papers and gladly took me to the residence of the UNO. It was also too close to the office and Dakbunglow. The caretaker asked a little boy to inform the UNO after reaching there. Soon the little boy came back again and took caretaker inside. After some time he came back and asked me to give him the papers. After few minutes the UNO came to the door to talk with me. After my confirmation that I will not be staying more than a single night he asked the caretaker to open a room for me. I enter at my room and it was a huge room with another door leads to the backside of the complex area. After opening the backdoor I was amazed to see that there is lake/river just after a few more footsteps. It was a wonderfull scenery. Before 5 o'clock the caretaker left me alone after helping me for some pics. I took a shower and went outside for a walk. A small bazar was created beside that tea-stall area. I watched people selling and buying things. The man at Tea-stall recognised me and asked where I am staying. I took a cup of tea and talked about the roads. I also went inside the Police Station at the opposite corner of the Tea-stall. I talked to some police. A few of them tried to embarrase me but soon understood that they will not get any advantage. After talking to some other well-mannered Policemen I return to my room. I was trying to write some notes and after half an hour the caretaker knock at my door. He told me that the guest of the other room at the Dakbunglow was looking for me for a long time. That guest is very much interested to meet me and asked the caretaker to tell me about him. I told him that I have to finish my diary and then I will visit him in his room. Soon I went to his room and he was a gentleman came to this area due to some work of Local School Education Program. First thing he asked me was if it is true that I am crossing all the roads by my cycle or not and why? We chatted for a long time about works and motto of ours. About eight-thirty I told him that I will leave because the caretaker told me to finish my supper earlier. Shops in this area closed sooner than expected. He told me that he had made some arrangement for our supper and he will be happy if I can join with him. So, the chatting gets longer. He told me to convey his greetings to the DC of Rangamati as they knew each other. At the end he also offered me to share the extra bed in his room if I would feel comfortable. But I was comfortable staying lonely. Sometimes I go to bed very late and keep lights turned on till I fell asleep. I never wanted to disturb other. So, later I went to my room and did some essential works before sleep. At morning I woke up and prepare myself and came outside. Seems to me I was too early and so I lock the door to walk around for sometime. I went to the back of Bunglow to have a look at the lake. But there I was amazed to see the massive fog above lake. I could hardly see the hills opposite of the lake. It was just a shade of hills I could watch because of it's size and the density of the fog was a bit lighter, higher from ground. I was even unable to see the other side of the lake. I went inside the room and took my camera. After waiting for sometime when I saw a person walking I requested him to took some photo of me with those fog at back. Then I returned at my room and soon the caretaker came. I handed him over the room and left the Bunglow. After taking the turn beside the Thana (Police Station) the road was very lonely but not too silent. I was hearing some kinds of buzz. Maybe sounds of bugs mixed with the birds call and winds. Let it be some unknown sounds but obviously it was giving me the pleasure to ride in this lonely road. Soon I cross a few groups of "Jhumia" (Jum Farmers) and a few BDR Guards standing on the road. Stopping cycle I took a photo of the Jhumia's working on the hills. They waived hands at me. I keep on going and soon reach Ghagra Checkpost. I took few photos and breakfast over there. It was a busy checkpost. I saw a numbers of Army over here. From here the roads were getting much altitude and cycling was too tough for me. I stopped at Manikchari checkpost to ask the road to Rangamati. From here one road went right side and another went straight. I had to take the straight road. Suddenly I saw a tower upon a hill and took pictures of it. When I climbed to the top of that hill I saw that it was the building of Bangladesh Television of Rangamati District and that tower was the Antenna of that office. I looked around but no one was there so I placed my cycle on the entrance of the building and took a pic from the opposite side of the road. After some time more I got a glance of Rangamati town from a hilltop. Soon I saw the stadium of Rangamati and took a picture of the stadium with my cycle. Then I went to the DC office directly by getting the location from peoples on road. He was busy with some work and unable to meet me on that very moment. After an hour I met him and listening to me he has given me the letter very fast. He asked me if I want to pass my night here or not. I told him that I am planning to pass the night at Khagrachari. So, I said goodbye to him and ride on my cycle. The Rangamati town is not a very big town but bigger than Bandarban. On my way I stopped at the Headquarter of Red Crescent, Rangamati. I met the Doctor who was in-charge of this district office. He was a very helpful man and gave me a lot of information about the roads and Rangamati. After taking some picture I left that office and took some more pic before reaching Manikchari. I finished my lunch at a roadside local restaurant. After lunch I start to cycle for next district. This was an excellent road to cycle. From the milestone I understood that I am crossing the area Kutukchari, Ghilachari, Bogachari and some more. The roads were just plain green with too much ups and down. I took the photos of wild flowers. Once I cross a bailey bridge and saw a army checkpost at the other end of the bridge. I took photo of bamboos and bridge from the bridge. Sometimes there was no road at all. I was just managing somehow. I also took photo of banana trees turned red from the dust of broken brick. I saw a plenty of fruits plantation at the hill and took a pic of them with lots of Pineapple. On the roadside, I saw a local person busy in smoking with a hukkah made by Bamboo. While cycling most of the times the Sun was at left side of mine. Soon the light fade away and I was worried because there was no sign of residential area to get a shelter to spend the night. I had no single idea for how long I have to cycle to get some shelter. Suddenly I came to a crossing point from where a small road went towards right and lots of signboards mentioning about some offices upon that direction. I stopped there and find two milestones. One was mentioning the distance of Khagrachari which was more than 23 and other was saying that Mohalchari Upazila (Sub-District) was just three kilometers away. After waiting there about five minutes I took the small road towards Mohalchari as no one showed up there. Already it was dark enough for me and I was facing problems even to see things within 10 meters of mine. I was cycling very slow and depending on my ears to avoid any collisions. After 15 to 20 minutes I saw some lights. Some laboures were working at the road to prepare the road. I asked them where if I will be able to reach the Mohalchari Center by this road. They answered positive. Soon I came to a local bazar huge enough than other bazar's I have seen in hill tracts. Asking the peoples cycling through the bazar I reach at the residence of UNO. After waiting for half an hour I was able to meet him. He asked me to stay at the hotels or boardings of bazar for security reason but I requested him about the Dakbunglow. Then he described that the Dakbunglow is far from the local residential area and there is no security. So, he can't take any risk. Moreover Police, APBN and BDR members patrol at the bazar area. But he also asked me to drop all my info's at the local Police Station before taking room at the boarding. He asked a person to escort me and I went to the Police Station with him. There I met Second Officer Wrote all the addresses of mine and some other info to make them satisfied. Then I went to the bazar and took a room at a boarding. Name of it was "Happy Boarding" and it was a tin-shed facility. I gave the Battery Charger of mine at the counter to charge them as there was no plug-point at my room. Then I went for a walk and came back soon to eat at the restaurant just beside the boarding. A lot of people came and talked to me when I finished my supper. When I came out of the restaurant the bazar was closed and only a few people were walking. So, I went to my room and went to bed after writing some notes. I woke up too early and left the boarding before Fifteen past Six. I took a pic at front of boarding and start cycling. I reached at the crossing before 7 o'clock. I saw few local tribal people enjoying heats of fire at that cold morning. I also joined them for some heat and informations. They told me that this single road will lead me towards Khagrachari and I will get few shops to have breakfast on the way. There was some sort of memorial at that crossing point. After taking pictures with them I left that area. The road was full of green and natural beauties. I saw some raw brooms just prepared after collecting from hills. The raw materials of these brooms was some part of a long grass and it is frequently used at our country. I also took picture of my shadow while cycling. I stopped at a camp of APBN to have some fresh water. The guards at the main gate was from greater Faridpur and he asked me to enter inside the camp. He asked his other fellow brother and introduce me. They told me that they have read about me a few days back and they were discussing if people really cycle or not when they are in tour. They did not expect that they would meet the person they were discussing. When the Khagrachari was 6 kilometers away I saw a lot of kids going to the school. |
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