Siddhakathi Zamindar Bari is located at Siddhakathi village, 4 km from Nalchiti upazila in Jhalakathi district. It was the residence of Zamindar Siddhakathi Roy Chowdhury, who was the father-in-law of famous poet Kamini Roy. The village was named after the zamindar (landlord). Once, it was a splendid palatial house, but it is almost in ruins now.

The palace complex had at least one hundred rooms. But in the course of time, it has become an abandoned property, which is in a very dilapidated condition. Most of the buildings of the house were dismantled several years ago, only a few remain, including a ‘rang mahal’ (entertainment room). There are a few water reservoirs and some memorial temples left.

Very few travellers visit the area to see the house. There is no one to take care of the abandoned house at present. Most of the property of the zamindari estate was occupied long ago. Now, encroachers have started taking over the land around the ruins of the house. If proper maintenance work is done immediately, then the house, which has significant heritage value, will be lost for good.

Siddhakathi School, meanwhile, was founded by Babu Jagat Prasanna Roy Chowdhury in 1882 on the premises of the house and then relocated to the southern outskirt of the village. The school is still in running.  

Reference: Brihattar Barishal er Oitihashik Nidarshan by Saiful Ahsan Bulbul (2012) and District of Bakerganj _Its History and Statistics (1876).

Photos: Writer