SANTHIA, PABNA, Mar 19: A recreational centre having mini park, artificial zoo and museum on a supermarket roof in Kashinathpur Bazar in Santhia Upazila of the district has created sensation among people.
The centre was raised by an ex-businessman Jahirul Islam on about 3,000 square foot roof of Jahir Supermarket in Kashinathpur Bazar in 2020. Three caretakers have been appointed to see it. It costs about Tk 30,000 per month for maintaining the centre.
The centre remains open from 9am to 1pm and from 3pm to 5pm for all. Visitors are coming from about 50 villages. Around hundred visitors are coming to see this everyday.
There are different rides and sculptures for children in the centre. The sculptures included tiger, deer, heron, snake, camel, shark, jackal, peacock, penguin, owl, dolphin, eagle, elephant, zebra, horse and others.
About 800 agriculture and household articles of 40-50 years old have been kept in the museum. These included Koler Gaan Machine, Hukka, writing slate, cassette, radio, Mathal, saw machine, milk-weighing bamboo Chunga, Hajack, plough, Ektara, wood Korom (a type of footwear) and others.
A visitor Partha, class nine student of Kashinathpur Science School & College, said, "We don need any money to see the zoo and museum. We are very happy for this."
Entrepreneur Jahirul Islam said, "I quitted business 22 years back. There is no recreational facility for children in the district. I have taken this initiative to introduce them with the lost tradition. I have collected some extinct animals and different rides. I have collected about 800 artefacts from different remote areas of the country. I am trying to collect more things. I am trying to establish a museum full of traditional items of Pabna."
