Gaibandha Representative/

The house named ‘Dispensary’ of Kuthibari, a historical landmark, is still standing as a witness of the times. Locals complain that some of the dispensary’s goods have been looted and it is on the verge of destruction.

Recently, the dispensary was seen standing in a dilapidated state behind the Gobindganj Upazila Land Office and Officers’ Quarters in Gaibandha.

It is known that after the reign of Nilkars, this ‘Kuthibari’ of Gobindganj came under Maharaja Sir Pradot Kumar Tagore and Maharaja Pradot Kumar Tagore Bahadur made this Kuthibari the center of his zamindari administration. In this kuthibari, the Maharaja started several developmental and service activities besides collecting his revenue. It is believed by many that the Maharaja established this iron-chained dispensary for the medical services of his employees and subjects.

Rumor has it, other establishments that once provided free medical care to the public are chained ‘dispensaries’. This ‘dispensary’ was widely known for providing free medicines for minor ailments. The house had 3 rooms with brick cement cast floor, half brick and other half tin walls and Bengali tinsed on top. This long north-south house was tied to the ground with 2 in the north-south and 2 in the east-west with a total of 4 big thick chains. The house of the dispensary is probably tied to the ground with 4 iron chains so that it does not get damaged in the storm. After that, when Gobindganj Upazila Health Complex was officially established, the value of this dispensary decreased and the activities were stopped and locked. After being locked for a long time, a sweeper named Gangajli started living in the balcony of this dispensary with her husband and children and still her next family is living in another tin house in front of this dispensary. But it is believed that some drug addicts stole dispensary’s doors, windows, tins and various furniture and sold them to finance their addiction. In the meantime, no one knows who has stolen 4 iron chains worth lakhs of rupees.
Locals complain that the dispensary’s doors, windows and tins have been opened by someone day in and day out in front of their eyes only due to lack of vision of the administration officials. Currently, this dispensary, which is a historical monument, is being destroyed, but there is no one to see it.

A local person named Khaybar Rahman said that even a few days ago, this historic dispensary had doors, windows, tin sheds and iron chains. But now I see there is not much. It is sad that the historical monuments of the zamindari period are being destroyed day by day in front of the administration officials and employees located in the administrative area of the upazila.

Sweeper Ganesh Basfor and Johnny Basfor who live next to the dispensary said, “We don’t know who or who opened the doors, windows, tin, iron chains.”

In this regard, Gobindganj Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) SM Abdullah-bin Shafiq said, I do not know anything about the looting of the dispensary’s goods. Necessary action will be taken after investigation.