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Tourist Spot

Title
Laldighi
Location
Transportation

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Details

Laldighi is a historical place in Chattogram.

Location: 

Laldighi is situated in the middle of the Chattogram city under Kotwali Police Station.  

History:

In 1761, Chattogram came under the rule of the East India Company. At that time, the Tahsil office (currently Metropolitan Police Office) was painted in red color. So, this is known to the people as "Lalkuthi". The British government constructed a jail at the north-east of Lalkuthi. It was also painted red and hence it was called "Lalghar". These two buildings were watched by two British guards wearing red turbans. Many believe that the buildings are named Lalkuthi and Lalghar for this reason. There was a small pond next to Lalkuthi and Lalghar. In the early days of British rule in Chattogram, the pond was turned into dighi. Locals call the pond Laldighi as it is situated in the middle of the Lalkuthi and Lalghar. A few structures and fields were built around the Laldighi later on. Fair is also organized on the bank of this large pond.

Ricket Ghat:

There was a mooring named Ricket Ghat on the western bank of Laldighi. During the British period, the zamindars of Chattogram built this mooring in memory of then commissioner of Chattogram, Sir Henry Rickets (1841-48).

Laldighi Maidan:

Previously, the entire flat area between the bottom of the hill housing the headquarters of Chattogram Metropolitan Police and the bottom of the Parir Pahar or Fairy's Hill located on the western side was known as the Municipal Maidan (ground). The Municipal Maidan was bifurcated into two parts when a new road from the north to the south was constructed during the second half of the 19th century. The eastern half was converted into a playground for the common people. After the establishment of Muslim High School, it became known as the playground of Muslim High School. Now, this field is known as Laldighi Maidan. Various public meetings and gatherings take place on this ground. National and local level meetings of various political parties are held here.

Boli Khela:

Boli Khela is a kind of wrestling. In the local dialect of Chattogram, the wrestlers are called Boli or strong men. The boli competition is arranged in the Bengali months of Chaitra, Baishakh or Jaishtha. The folk game of rural Bangladesh is now one of the popular games in Chattogram city. The biggest boli competition is held on 12 Baishakh every year, according to the Bengali calendar, in the Laldighi Maidan. A Boli wins the competition when he can throw his rival on the ground and press his back against the ground by applying techniques and force, within rules of the game. A businessman and social worker Abdul Jabbar Sowdagar introduced the Boli Khela on Laldighi ground in 1909. This wrestling competition is therefore known as Jabbar-er Boli Khela.

Baishakhi Fair:

A Baishakhi fair lasting for 4-5 days sits around the streets of Laldighi on the occasion of Boli Khela or wrestling competition. The sellers sit in shops under the open sky or a small cover atop with an array of goods. The items include various cottage industry products, children’s toys, plastic dolls of different sizes, flute, masks, crafts for household decoration, household utensils made of metal, clay dolls, flowers and flower-vases, essential items made of wood, bamboo, cane and clay, iron made items e.g. chopper, knife, boti, spade, mortar and pestle, baking pan, cooking spud, frying pan for cooking cakes, ornamented containers and different kinds of dolls. The handicrafts sold include reticulate bag made of jute strings, swings, bags, table-mat, furniture items including chairs and tables made of cane. Traditional food items include goja, moa, tiler naru, whey, chickpea curry, puffed rice, batasha, khoi, jilapi, sweets, seasonal fruits like melon, water-melon, coconut etc. and various types of dried fish. Side by side, facilities like ferris wheel, variety show, rotating wheel, circus and other entertainments that go with fairs are also available here. A large number of people come from distant places to visit the fair.

Laldighi Park:

A park located on the eastern, southern and western sides adjacent to the mosque is known as Laldighi Park. It is covered with different kinds of trees and flowers. There are rows of willow and debdaru trees besides its wall. The park is open from 6 to 8 in the morning and 3 to 7 in the evening.

Political and Commercial Importance of Laldighi:

Laldighi Maidan is playing an important role in national politics. The political meetings, which take place at the Maidan, carry national importance. The business centers of Chattogram have also proliferated around it. Banks, insurance companies and hotels have been built on the eastern and northern sides. Buses ply from the bank of the dighi on different routes. Thousands of people throng the area every day. The bustling Laldighi area has developed into a vital centre of politics, economy and culture of Chattogram.

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