Crass and careless visitors ruin Baldha Garden

A large number of visitors come to the Cybele section of Baldah garden everyday, but hardly any of them are nature lovers.
A large number of visitors come to the Cybele section of Baldah garden everyday, but hardly any of them are nature lovers.

Dhaka city today hardly has any greenery. The little that remains is at risk. Baldah Garden in Wari of Old Dhaka is one of the few green spots left in the capital city.

This glorious arboretum is threatened by the densely populated urban space, surrounding buildings depriving the garden of adequate sunlight, lack of proper conservation, and also lack of public awareness.

Several items on the list at the entrance are not in existence now. 13 July, Baldah garden, Wari, Dhaka. Photo: Nusrat Nowrin
Several items on the list at the entrance are not in existence now. 13 July, Baldah garden, Wari, Dhaka. Photo: Nusrat Nowrin

Zamindar Narendra Narayan Chowdhury founded the Baldah garden in 1909. He worked hard to raise the rich collection of plants from some 50 nations. There are over 600 species including rare and near-extinct ones in the garden.

There are both local and exotic species of plants in this  three acre botanical garden. It is managed as a satellite unit of the National Botanical Gardens in Mirpur under the forestry department.

People litter as they please. The memorial of zamindar Narendra Narayan Chowdhury is in a squalid state.
People litter as they please. The memorial of zamindar Narendra Narayan Chowdhury is in a squalid state.

Narendra Narayan divided the garden in two sections and named one after the Greek goddesses of Psyche, goddess of soul and the other after Cybele, goddess of nature. The Cybele section is open for visitors, but Psyche is restricted.

On a 13 July visit, the Cybele section was found in a deplorable state. The visitors there seem to have least interest in the garden or respect for the rare collection of flora. They are just there to have fun at the cost of the plants and the environment. There have been media reports about this abuse of the garden, but the scene remains unchanged.

Fences have vanished or in ruins.
Fences have vanished or in ruins.

The surrounding buildings are in the way of the branches of the big trees. The trees are alive, but in a crumbling state.

Many of the fences were damaged. There were plastic and litter strewn everywhere everywhere. A lot of people were entering the garden, littering it with bottles, packets and such, not bothered about using the dustbins. There were instructions to use the dustbins, but who cares?

This damaged plant in the Baldah garden is evidence of the crass devastation people bring upon this age old sanctuary.
This damaged plant in the Baldah garden is evidence of the crass devastation people bring upon this age old sanctuary.

Bottles were floating on the water in the ponds. The leaves and branches were torn and scarred.  A group of boys were inscribing names on the bark of a tree. There was none to prevent this.

A damaged plant in the Baldah Garden.
A damaged plant in the Baldah Garden.

The Psyche section was, however, undisturbed and in better condition.

The boy in the orange T-shirt has just inscribed letters on the tree while others look on.
The boy in the orange T-shirt has just inscribed letters on the tree while others look on.

A caretaker of the garden, Rezaul, said in order to save the garden, a former director of the National Botanical Gardens Mollah Rezaul Karim had requested the government to restrict visitors from both sections of the garden. But his request was not granted.

Couples often use this garden for their `romantic` escapades, often violating all sense of decency.
Couples often use this garden for their `romantic` escapades, often violating all sense of decency.

"We implore the visitors; there are signboards, dustbins too--but who cares! You can easily tell if these people have come to see the garden or for other purposes. We feel so helpless," he added.

Two visitors sitting by the lily pond eating peanuts and strewing the shells all over. Many throw these into the water.
Two visitors sitting by the lily pond eating peanuts and strewing the shells all over. Many throw these into the water.
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Baldah garden is replete with garbage and the sanctuary is at risk.

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A huge number of people come to the garden everyday and there is hardly any space for the trees.

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Couples rarely leave any space for the plants.

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Even the water lily is not spared from garbage.

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Couples crowd the banks of the lily ponds in Baldah. Plastic bottles float on the water.

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A plastic bottle among the plants of Baldah garden. The visitors dump garbage everywhere in the garden, except in the dustbins.