& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Check in for a cool dip

Believe it or not, at Bangsal lies a pond that offers clean water for bathers free!

CITY CORRESPONDENT
It's very early in the morning. As always, Old Dhaka resident Abbas Ali steps out of the mess-house he lives in with a toothbrush clinging to his mouth and a gamchha (towel) resting on his shoulder. After a few minutes' walk he reaches his destination -- the pushkuni (pond) at Bangsal.
For Abbas, a shopkeeper's assistant, this is the only place where he can take a decent bath as there are no bathrooms at his mess. And that's the case for many others who already crowd the pond by the time Abbas arrives there
The rectangular one-acre pond is always full with bathers. Due to acute shortage in water supply in this densely populated area, many of the local residents look to this century-old facility as their very own 'Roman bath.' Another factor that makes this place so popular is it's impressive level of maintenance.
"Before going to work, I must take a dip here everyday. Part of the reason is non-availability of water at my mess and the other is pure enjoyment. I used to swim while I was in my village. Dhaka doesn't offer any such option so this pond is unique in that sense. Bathing and swimming has become a fun thing altogether," said Abbas before
breaststroking towards the centre of the pond.
For non-locals like Abbas, the entry fee is Tk 1. However, permanent Bangsal residents can use it for free.
The pond has two ghats (piers) one is for temporary residents and the other for permanent ones. The ghat for the non-residents is usually busier than the one for the natives. "At least 2,000 people use this facility everyday from dawn to dusk," said one of caretakers of the pond.
This reservoir has always been popular. Some years ago, a local elite Alhaj Bhutto donated this pond for the use of the locality. With the passage of time, more and more people have started taking advantage of its uniqueness.
With cramping of the pond with bathers reaching crisis stage, a committee comprising local people was formed in the early 90's to maintain the pond. The committee decided to raise money from the temporary residents or outsiders who wanted to use the pond. Initially, the rate was fixed at 25 paisa but now it's Tk 1.
"Our earnings get momentum when people pour in on Fridays or holidays. During winter it slumps a
bit but summer brings back brisk business," said a caretaker.
Five caretakers have been appointed to look after the pond alternatively.
"About Tk 30,000 is needed every month to maintain the pond satisfactorily. The money is usually raised from the bathers. The surplus amount is spent on community work like arranging marriages for poor girls, treatment for the underprivileged etc., " informed a committee member.
The most heartening aspect of the pond remains its cleanliness and hygienic standard. The committee has chalked out an efficient plan in this regard.
"We are quite aware and particular about its cleanliness. That's why we flush out gallons of water each night through the main sewerage drain. A deep-tubewell
then pumps it up with fresh water for use the next day, " said committee member Mohammad Masum.
Through its services, the pond has become a symbol for community unification also. Recently, the present inheritors of Alhaj Bhutto made an attempt to fill up the pond and erect concrete structures there. "We resisted that heinous move. We had to as we all know how important this pond is for maintaining the ecological balance of this area. Besides, Alhaj Bhutto had donated it permanently for community use," said Masum.
With unplanned urbanisation gradually swallowing every little free space or waterbody in Dhaka, the 'Pushkuni' at Bangsal continues to provide a refuge for residents like Abbas whom we can be enviously classify as the few 'lucky ones.’