Rabindranath’s renovating Kuthibari to attract more visitors

Over Tk 10 million revenue is expected to be collected from Shelaidaha Kuthibari in Kushtia after completion of the extension and development work of the memorial place of Rabindranath Tagore where he used to live for some times and wrote many of his great creations.

“After completion of the extension and development work of Rabindra Kuthibari, the revenue collection from the archaeological site is expected to increase by many folds. The project will be completed by the end of this year,” Khulna Regional Archeology Department director Afroza Khan Mita told BSS.

Revenue of Tk 4.6 million was collected from the Kuthibari in fiscal 2017-18 while Tk 4 million in the current fiscal till April last, she said.

Former Indian president Pranab Mukherjee visited the Shilaidaha Kuthibari during his visit to Bangladesh in 2013. Later, Indian government donated Tk 120 million for extension of the Rabindra Kuthibari as per commitment of Pranab Mukherjee.

Former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor laid a foundation stone bearing the name of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Shilaidaha Kuthibari premises on 29 October 2015 in Kushtia.

Mita said an agreement was signed on ‘Extension and development work of Shilaidaha Rabindra Kuthibari in Kushtia’ between Bangladesh and India on 9 March in 2017 on Kuthibari premises.

The then Economic Relations Division (ERD) secretary Kazi Shafiqul Azam signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh while the then Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla on behalf of India, she added.

The director said the number of tourists and visitors will increase after completion of the extension work of the Kutibari and it will be helpful for the researchers.

Custodian of the Shilaidaha Kuthibari Mukhlesur Rahman Bhuiyan said the number of visitors is increasing day by day as the archaeology department is working in upholding the country’s history and heritages.

The two-storey building, where Rabindranath used to live, has been opened as museum for visitors, he said, adding that the materials used by Bishwa Kabi and his arts and works are being exhibited at all the 16 rooms of the two-storey building.

There is an arrangement for ticket to visit the museum, the custodian said, adding the ticket price for Bangladeshi citizens has been fixed Tk 20 while Tk 5 for students up to secondary level, Tk 100 for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries and Tk 200 for other foreign visitors.

Bhuiyan said under the project rest house, library cum research center, open stage, cafeteria, car parking and ansar shed will be built. After completion of the work, more visitors are expected to visit Rabindra Kuthibari increasing the revenue collection from it, he added.