‘Boro Kuthi a natn’l heritage’

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Saturday, 29 January 2011

Author / Source : OUR CORRESPONDENT

RAJSHAHI, Jan 28: “Boro Kuthi”, a historical Dutch establishment in Rajshahi founded during the middle of the 18th century will be declared as a national heritage site in Rajshahi, informed mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation AHM Khairuzzaman Liton at a meeting with a number of visiting Dutch archeologists in Rajshahi on Friday. “Boro Kuthi” is one of the ancient establishments situated beside the river Padma near Dargapara. The Dutch traders used to deal in indigo and silk from staying at this Boro Kuthi. After the fall of Nawab Siraj Uddowla in 1757, Dutch traders tried to resist the forces of East India Company with the help of Mir Jafar and other elites of Murshedabad but they were defeated in the hands of the British forces.
After their defeat, East India Company purchased the Boro Kuthi and a representative of the company used to live there and dealt in Silk trade.
Later in 1833, the East India Company withdrew their business from Rajshahi and sold the Boro Kuthi to Robert Watson Company. Robert Watson Company started to trade in silk and Indigo from Boro Kuthi and Rajshahi turned to a prosperous town from where silk and indigo were being imported to Great Britain and other countries of the world through Rajshahi river( Padma) port.
Later on the Robertson Company handed over Boro Kuthi to Midnapore Jaminder Company which was also a British Company. The old building in Rajshahi is the Boro Kuthi.
This two-storey building has 12 rooms. The rooms situated at the ground floor were used as armory of the Dutch traders. Several canons were set up at the court yard of this building during the Dutch ownership of the building. Later on the British Watson company used this ground floor as a jail where many people were tortured and killed and many women were raped. There is a cylindrical ladder to reach the first floor. The building is a mute witness of past history of Rajshahi. It is still surviving because it was renovated several times.
Under the initiative of RCC Mayor the works of preservation and rejuvenation of heritage and culture has been started. As a part of the programme, Dutch Archeologist Floras Khajar, Archeologist Sigfried Tanjing, Researcher Lutful Haque Tutul, Dramatist Ferdous Hasan today sat for a discussion with RCC Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton.  AHM Khairuzzmaan Liton informed the delegates that Boro Kuthi will be renovated and declared as Heritage of Rajshahi and the country. It will also turn to be an attractive tourist spot.  The Dutch archeologists also assured their all out cooperation to renovate this historical building. They have already discussed the plan with the Rotary Club of Netherlands and agreed that the building is also important for the researchers.