4/5 Robin F. 3 years ago on Google
Laldighi a
historical
place
in
Chittagong
city,
situated
near
the
Lalkuthi
(headquarters
of
the
Metropolitan
Police)
and
Lalghar
(Jail).
It
was
converted
into
a
dighi
(large
pond)
during
the
initial
stage
of
British
rule.
Since
then,
the
place
came
to
be
known
as
Laldighi.
A
few
structures
and
fields
were
built
around
the
Laldighi
later
on.
Fairs
were
also
organised
on
the
bank
of
this
large
pond.
The
naming
of
Laldighi
is
certainly
linked
to
the
symbol
of
the
police
during
British
rule,
which
was
lal
or
red.
The
pucca
ghat
on
the
western
bank
of
Laldighi
is
known
as
Ricket
Ghat
after
the
name
of
the
then
commissioner
of
Chittagong.
Previously,
the
entire
flat
area
between
the
bottom
of
the
hill
housing
the
headquarters
of
Chittagong
Metropolitan
Police
and
the
bottom
of
the
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
Laldighir
Maidan.
Various
public
meetings
and
gatherings
take
place
on
this
ground.
National
and
local
level
meetings
of
various
political
parties
also
take
place
here.
A
fair
lasting
for
4-5
days
sits
around
the
streets
of
Laldighi
on
the
occasion
of
Bolikhela
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,
toys
for
children,
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
iron,
wood,
bamboo,
cane
and
clay,
chopper
made
of
iron,
knife,
large
knife,
spade,
mortar
and
pestle,
baking
pan,
cooking
tool,
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
gaja,
moa,
tiler
moa,
chini-matha,
boot,
murhi,
batasha,
khoi,
jilapi,
sweets,
seasonal
fruits
like
melon,
water-melon
etc.
and
dried
fish
of
various
categories.
Side
by
side,
facilities
like
merry-go-round,
variety
show,
rotating
wheel,
circus
and
other
entertainments
that
go
with
fairs
are
also
on
offer.
A
large
number
of
people
come
from
distant
places
to
attend
the
fair.
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
deodar
trees
besides
its
wall.
The
park
is
open
from
6
to
8
in
the
morning
and
3
to
7
in
the
evening.
The
Laldighi
Maidan
is
playing
an
important
role
in
national
politics.
The
political
meetings,
which
take
place
at
the
Maidan
carry
national
importance.
The
business
centres
of
Chittagong
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
develope
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