NIJHUM DWIP, NIJHUM ISLAND

Nijhum Dwip / Nijhum island

NOAKHALI

Nijhum Dwip means, Silent Island is a small island under Hatiya upazila. It is situated in Noakhali District in Bangladesh. Once it was called as Char Osman.

This virgin new island of Nijhum Dwip raised on the estuary of the great Meghna channel in the mouth of The Bay of Bengal. The geographical location has been identified just 2 kilometers south west of Hatia under Noakhali district. This newly accredited island may be called as cluster of islands consist of more than 4-5 small islands like Char Osman, Char Kamla, Corner of Char Osman and isolated from the mainland by Hatia channel.

Nijhum Dwip, was designated in 2001 as the Nijhum Dwip National Park. The park is rich in plant and animal life, as well as being home to plentiful bird-life, while hosting numerous migratory birds.

The forestry department of Bangladesh created lush mangrove forests in Nijhum Dweep as part of conservation efforts for the area. One of the main attractions in these forests is the herd of Spotted Deer, which is believed to number more than 5,000. The Keora (or Kerfa) tree was chosen for its fast growing root system, which anchors itself into the sandy ground. The leaves of this hardy tree are the spotted deer’s favorite food, but most of the leaves are too high for the deer to reach. In an excellent example of how animals help one another, the resident monkeys shake or pluck the leaves from the trees, dropping them where the deer can pick them up. The wood of the trees is used in the construction of housing, as materials for boat manufacture and the manufacture of agricultural implements, as well as fuel for domestic use. Other animals that visitors are likely to see in the Nijhum Dweep National Park and off its shores include Clawless Otter, Fishing Cat, Snakes, Tortoises, Turtles and Dolphins.

At high tide a significant potion of the island becomes covered in water, apart from the cultivated, inhabited areas. In addition to the mangrove forest, the island has huge inter-tidal mudflats and sand-flats, which are of utmost importance to resident and migratory water-fowl, and serves as the southern most stop-over for close to 100 species of migratory birds, around a dozen of which are considered to be globally critically endangered. Birding enthusiasts can look out for various species of Heron, Egret, Cormorant and Ibis, as well as Spotted Green Shank, Spotted Red Shank, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Indian Skimmer.

The inhabited part of the island is cultivated and watered by a number of fresh water streams running across it. The people living on Nijhum Dweep make a living from fishing, and are self-sustaining to an extent through the produce they grow and there are a few markets on the island, selling all types of general necessities.

Those who have visited the Nijhum Dweep National Park will tell you that getting there is an adventure in itself, with the last leg of the journey on a local motorboat or “water-taxi”. But the general consensus is that the Nijhum Dweep National Park is a fascinating place to explore when visiting Bangladesh, and becoming acquainted with the people who live on the island is an unforgettable experience.

Since there is no regular river transport or passenger route from Dhaka to Nijhum Dwip, it is difficult to organize direct tour program from Dhaka to Nijhum Dwip and Kuakata beach through coastal water ways. The main problem is that there is no navigation light and lusider, there are hundreds of submerged islands due to the constant deposition of silt through the Megna estuary.

CHENGI RIVER

Chengi River

KHAGRACHARI

A noticeably small river, having very shallow in depth, one can pass the river by walking easily, regardless the season. Though the river is very narrow and shallow, but the current of the river is very strong.If you simply drop a straw or any other crumb into the water, you can easily find how fast that stuffs are floating.

This river is not that much beautiful or eye pleasing due to the muddy water. Also the river used to carry lots of dry leafs from trees and grasses. But the main attraction is, how it is flowing through the mountains. If you observe the river from the top of any hill(specially "Alu Tila"), it will appear you as a giant snake from far side. So many turns and twists.

NANCHHORI RIVER

Nanchhori River

KHAGRACHARI

Nunchhori, probably the smallest river .Will it be better to call this a canal. This small river has the main water source is a lake named "Debotar Pukur", which is located at "Nunchhori" of Khagrachhori, and having an elevation of 700 ft from sea level. It is must, you have to pass the so called river if you wish to visit that lake.

The average depth of the river is around 1 ft, or may be less. It has a constant flow throughout the year, and only God knows how the lake used to produce this amount of water every day.Local people used to drink the water from here, and also they used it for their daily needs. Its very hard to find any tube well around here due to the rocks and stones under the soil.

RAJSHAHI MEDICAL COLLEGE

Rajshahi Medical Collage

RAJSHAHI

 Rajshahi Medical College

WEB SITE: http://www.rmc.ac.bd/
 
A handful number of enthusiastic and philanthropic people started a Medical School in Rajshahi city in 1954. A four year course was started leading to diploma called LMF (Licentiate of Medical Faculty) offered by the State Medical Faculty, Dhaka. A total of eighty students were admitted in the very first year of its inception. In 1954, the then East Pakistan Government converted it into a government Institute, Rajshahi Medical School.

 Main gate

Old Rajshahi medical

Later on, the government decided to start a five year course leading to MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) degree and as such in 1958 Rajshahi Medical School emerged as Rajshahi Medical College. At the beginning, the Medical College was housed in a small building of the Barendra Museum. It was later shifted to the present college building. Forty two native and two foreign students were admitted in the first batch.

The auditorium

Since then, the college has been continuing its steady progress. The number of admitted students is now increased to 175 which is equal in 8 old government medical colleges of Bangladesh. Foreign students of SAARC countries are being admitted in this Institution every year. Other hospitals situated in the city like Infectious Disease Hospital founded in 1962, Hospital for Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases founded in 1966, Leprosy Control Center founded in 1968 are all affiliated with this college. A Nuclear Medicine Center was also established within the campus in 1970. Following the war of liberation in 1971, the Medical College and hospital have made considerable improvements in many aspects such as extension of the college buildings, student's accommodation, number of hospital beds, and establishment of a modern Auditorium etc. There has been addition of new departments like Coronary Care Unit, Nephrology, Neurosurgery, Radiotherapy and Gastroenterology.

Recently the hospital is equipped with CT scan, MRI, angiogram and renal haemodialysis machine. There have been a few recent additions in the College too like establishment of a beautiful mosque at the college premises, modernization and beautification of college main gate and premises, extension of the conference room with modern audio-visual facilities. At present besides undergraduate MBBS and BDS courses, postgraduate MD, MS, M.Phil, MPH and Diploma degrees are being awarded in 18 disciplines at Rajshahi Medical College. Already a handful number of successful doctors have achieved their postgraduate degrees from this college and working in various field of their specialization with good reputation.