A Journey to Birishiri, Durgapur
Rasi Moni monument, Bijoypur, Durgapur.
It would be interesting to visit Birishiri, Shushong Durgapur. It is a beautiful landscape with the flow of the Shomeshwari River, the White Ceramic Mountains, the Christian missionary, the small hills near the India Bangladesh borders etc. Furthermore, ethnic community and their life-style is also interesting for many travelers. Don't forget to visit another nice place - Lengura.
How to get there: The best possible way to travel locally is to go to Mymensingh busstand or commonly known as Mohakhali busstand and catch a direct bus to Birishiri. It will take almost 5 hours to reach at Birishiri from Dhaka. Another way is to go to Shamganj (on the way to Netrakona) by Netrakona bus-service from Mohakhali busstand. Then, from Shamganj to Birishiri by Bus.
Where to stay: At Durgapur there are a few residential Hotels such as Hotel Gulshan, Hotel Joba, Hotel Nirala, and Hotel Shusong situated at Durgapur Bazar. But the quality of these hotels are not up-to-the mark. However, one can stay in the Tribal Cultural Institute Guest-house or the YMCA rest-house at Birishiri. Another alternative is Govt. guest-house, situated at Durgapur. Although this guest-house is for Govt. Officials, one can try for this guest-house subject to its availability for non-govt. people.
How to get there: The best possible way to travel locally is to go to Mymensingh busstand or commonly known as Mohakhali busstand and catch a direct bus to Birishiri. It will take almost 5 hours to reach at Birishiri from Dhaka. Another way is to go to Shamganj (on the way to Netrakona) by Netrakona bus-service from Mohakhali busstand. Then, from Shamganj to Birishiri by Bus.
Where to stay: At Durgapur there are a few residential Hotels such as Hotel Gulshan, Hotel Joba, Hotel Nirala, and Hotel Shusong situated at Durgapur Bazar. But the quality of these hotels are not up-to-the mark. However, one can stay in the Tribal Cultural Institute Guest-house or the YMCA rest-house at Birishiri. Another alternative is Govt. guest-house, situated at Durgapur. Although this guest-house is for Govt. Officials, one can try for this guest-house subject to its availability for non-govt. people.
Shah Sultan Rumi (R)
Shah Sultan Rumi (R) a saint, whose dargah is at Madanpur in the district of Netrakona. His life and activities in Bengal have been the subject matter of a tradition collected from the locality about a hundred years back. According to tradition, a certain Koch King was ruling in the area of Netrakona, when the saint came and settled there.
No Muslim was there except the saint and his followers, but when the saint settled there he attracted many people by his piety. It is said that whoever came in his contact accepted Islam by his miracles and became a devoted follower. When the fact was brought to the notice of the king, he called the saint to his presence and asked him to explain his activities. The saint said that God granted him spiritual power. The king ordered poison to be served to the saint and the latter took it uttering Bismillah (ie in the name of Allah) and the king to his great surprise found that the saint was safe and free from danger. Those present accepted Islam and the king granted the saint the village of Madanpur free of rent.
There is a big rent-free estate attached to the shrine of Madanpur. In 1829 AD when the East India Company's government tried to resume the estate, the guardians of the shrine produced an old Persian document dated 1082 AH/ 1671 AD and the Madanpur Estate was confirmed to the holders of the document.
It appears that Shah Sultan Rumi was one of those saints who came to Bengal in the early period. Some scholars believe that he came to Madanpur before the Muslim conquest of Bengal, which, however, may not be true.
No Muslim was there except the saint and his followers, but when the saint settled there he attracted many people by his piety. It is said that whoever came in his contact accepted Islam by his miracles and became a devoted follower. When the fact was brought to the notice of the king, he called the saint to his presence and asked him to explain his activities. The saint said that God granted him spiritual power. The king ordered poison to be served to the saint and the latter took it uttering Bismillah (ie in the name of Allah) and the king to his great surprise found that the saint was safe and free from danger. Those present accepted Islam and the king granted the saint the village of Madanpur free of rent.
There is a big rent-free estate attached to the shrine of Madanpur. In 1829 AD when the East India Company's government tried to resume the estate, the guardians of the shrine produced an old Persian document dated 1082 AH/ 1671 AD and the Madanpur Estate was confirmed to the holders of the document.
It appears that Shah Sultan Rumi was one of those saints who came to Bengal in the early period. Some scholars believe that he came to Madanpur before the Muslim conquest of Bengal, which, however, may not be true.