The New Nation - Internet Edition

Muhammad Selim Hossain

Like all other earth sciences and scientific disciplines in Geography and Environment, direct observation that is, field study, is basic and more effective method and mechanism of obtaining accurate information. Specially in geographic and environmental research, the significance of field study needs no telling. This is why, in fourth year of four years integrated Honours Degree in Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka, a full unit course has been included entitled "Gelb:410-Land use, socio-economic and environmental studies." This course trains us in field techniques and methods of rural and urban land use survey, environmental analysis and socio-economic studies. At the end of the course, the students are assigned to submit a research-oriented report on land use socio-economic and environmental studies of any geographic region. To prepare a report on the mentioned issues, every year fourth year students of the department go on a field trip to different parts of the country. This year, we, the fourth year students of Geography and Environment Department, University of Dhaka, went on a field trip from 17-21 March to Panchagarh to conduct a comprehensive study on land use, socio-economic and environmental studies in Panchagarh town and Hafizabad Union of Panchagarh Sadar Upazila. The field trip was accomplished under the leadership of Mr Borhan Uddin, Professor of the department, and especially under the direct supervision of Professor Nurul Islam Nazem, honourable course teacher.

Panchagarh is one of the worth-mentioning districts of Bangladesh, dear land of our origin. It is the extreme northern (West) district of the country with an area of 140.63 sq. km. which lies between 26o.00 and 26o38' north latitudes and between 88.49' east longitudes. Virtually it is bounded on three sides by 288 km long Indian border, having Darjeeling district on the north, Jalpaiguri and Coochbihar districts on the north east, Dinajpur and Purnea districts on the west, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts on the south and Nilphamari district on the east.

Panchagarh Zila was formerly a sub-division of Dinajpur district. It was upgraded to a zila in 1984 (Population census, 2001). It is generally believed that there were Pancha (means five) Garhs (means Jungles) namely Mirgarh, Hossengarh. Dabengarh, Coat Vojonirgarh and Vitargarh in the present place of the Zila, in consequence of which it was named Panchagarh. Here it is worth mentioning that Panchagarh was a thana under Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal during the British rule.

Physiographically, this landmass belongs to the Himalayan Piedmont plain. Its soil is sandy, alluvial and bears close affinity with the soil of the old Himalayan basin. Maximum temperature is 30o 3oC and minimum temperature is 10.1o C. Annual total rainfall is about 2931 mm. It consists of 5-upazilas.1 municipality, 43 unions and 850 villages.

Historically, Panchagarh is also a land mass of great importance. Soynnasi and Fakir Andolon flourished here during 1763-1800. Tebhaga Andolon originated from this district in 1946. About 30.6% of the total population of this district is literate. Male literacy is about 39.8% whereas female linteracy is about 20.8% (Population census, 2001). It has 1152,32 hectares cultivable land, 1035 hectares fallow land and 1252 hectares forest area. The main occupation of about 51.88 % of the total population of this zila is agriculture. Among the peasants 33% are landless. Main crops are paddy, jute, wheat, potato and sugarcane. Some crops are going to be extinct from this locality including barley, Aus paddy and kaun.

Panchagarh Pourosava and Hafizabad Union were our main study areas. We conducted an intensive land use study in Panchagarh Pourasova and land use, socio-economic and environmental study in Hafizabad union of Panchagarh Sadar Upazila.

Panchagarh Municipality was established in 1985. It consists of 9 wards and 32 Mahallas. The area of the town is 11.36 sq.km. It has a population of 38550; the density of population is about 3393 per sq.km. The literacy rate in the town is about 52.77%.

Hafizabad union is close to Panchagarh Pourasava. It has an area of about 5922 acres. It has a population of about 16406. Literacy rate is about 43.50.

At first we launched a detailed land use survey in Panchagarh town. Then we went to Hafizabad union accompanied by cadastral map. We made observation of every plot with the help of local people and cadastral map and collected 8 land use and 8 socio-economic data of every plot and finally noted down the data using 'Fractional Code System." We collected socio economic and environmental data with the help of detailed and enriched questionnaire. To do so, we talked to different professionals including farmers, labourers, businessmen, school and college teachers, UP chairman and members, local land surveyors, land owners and local people. Besides, we have tried to guess about different parameters of socio-economic condition from direct observation. However, conducting the study we have gathered plenty of sweet and surprising experiences, about their behavioural pattern family and social culture and the locality.

The inhabitants of the locality are every simple and sincere. They are mindful and responsible to their respective duties. Most of them are poor but honest. They are devoted to truth and speaking the truth so to say. They are peaceloving. The social life is very strong. They live in society in peace and happiness. They hardly face unwanted social occurrences. One living in the society never speaks ill of others in their absence. Mutual co-operation and social integration are considerably high. They seek immense pleasure in entertainment of others. They don't become envious of others' progress. Probably they don't even think to cause harm to others. They are very respectful to each other and each other's opinion, interest and facilities.

The frequency of occurrence of chaos involving young girls and boys studying in schools and colleges is very low according to the information provided by the teachers and elite persons of the society. Both the boys and girls are very gentle. They never dare to tease each other but the scenery is frequently found in newspaper. Shazneen is the best example.

Our study reveals that difference between rich and poor is very high. The rich are very economically developed whereas the poor are very economically backward. For example, some families have 200-400 bighas arableland whereas a large number of people (about 33%) don't have any single plot of agriland. They cultivate the land of others. But the important and interesting matter is that mutual relation and understanding among the rich and the poor is satisfactory. They are habituated to view and think any thing positively. Social coherence and family feelings are still very strong. Society is free from riot, injustice, clash, fornication, women molestation and family is still an important social institution. The liking in the society share weal and woe of others. They extend their hands of co-operation, fellow feeling over others if it is necessary.

In the very beginning, the inhabitants of Panchagarh have received us cordially and behaved very well all the time we stayed there. We have been highly honoured and facilitated and have derived co-operation from people of all walks of society including noted managers, restaurant manager, administration, businessman, teachers. UP chairman and members, fellow people and other professionals.

Panchagarh District Administration also deserves immense praise from our part. The administration helped us in different ways, specially in getting cadastral map which was our crying need. More specifically, the Police Administration has taken care of us all the time providing flawless security.

To sum up the simplicity, generosity and nobility, hospitality, praiseworthy mentality and the overall pattern of their behaviour have deeply impressed us. We owe a great deal to them in many ways. They are endowed with a number of excellent, valuable but rare humane qualities. We should learn from them. The Inhabitants and Administration of Panchagarh! I wish you all the best from the deepest part of my heart. What you have done for us will remind us of you to the last moments alive on earth. At the same time I can't but thank the Department for introducing such an interesting course for us. I have immense pleasure to express my deepest sense of gratitude and best regard to my dear teachers Professor Borhan Uddin and Professor Nurul Islam Nazem for taking an attempt to go on such field trip through which we have gained an overall idea about Panchagarh district and have gathered some other sweet and surprising experiences.

Today, the nation is passing through a difficult time both economically and politically. Our politics and politicians are devoid of these above qualities. The reason why the national Parliament of the country has never been functioning. Rather they are polluted and morally degenerate corrupts. The civil society are widely divided in many ways. The reason why they can't contribute significantly to the development of the country. When culminated village politics, social clash and unrest, political clout and instability are very common words in the dictionary of the nation. I feel the absence of these noble qualities essentially for the whole nation. We still are shocked with alarm when we remember the nightmare of 1/11, one of the stigmatised days in the history of Bangladesh and Bengali Nation.

Yet I am hopefully sure to a greater extent that if we posses, nurture and reflect these noble virtues in all walks of society, specially in the political atmosphere, the dream of golden Bengal will not remain as mere dream, rather will come true on a day in very near future. Let us take attempt to possess, nurture these well-timed qualities, do our respective duties accordingly and wait for the long-cherished day eagerly.