Pilkhana, Bangladesh
Pilkhana
BGB Head Quarter | |
|---|---|
Para-Military Cantonment | |
| Country |  Bangladesh |
| Division | Dhaka Division |
| District | Dhaka District |
Pilkhana is a place within Dhaka City in Bangladesh.The word Pilkhana means 'Stable of Elephants'.Pilkhana is not officially named in any record of Dhaka City Corporation,yet the same is the popular name of this place, as this place was related to Elephants. 'Pil' means the Elephant and the 'Khana' is the 'home'used in the sense of Stable.
History of Pilkhana
During the 16th century AD,in the period of Mughal Empire Pilkhana was a jungle place and was used as the grazing area of the Royal Elephants and for its stable, for not less than 300 Elephants, whereupon this place was named as Pilkhana.Later during the period of East India Company administration,the company employees used to taming freshly caught untamed Elephants.The rich Zamindars' also sent their un-tamed Elephants to this place to the Company employees on payment of money to tame their Elephants.This place was practically a wood, beside which River Buriganga was flowing. During the Mughal period the Royal Elephants, kept in this place, used to go for grazing in the nearby Jungle in the east, which was later turned into Dhaka Nawabs' Garden and now known as 'Paribagh' and 'Shahbagh'.The pathway these guided Elephants were used,from Pilkhana to the Jungle, later became public road named as Elephant Road.[1]
The Elephants pathway road now can be traced as starts from BGB Gate no.3, running through the middle of New Super Market,adjacent to Dhaka New Market, touching the Gauchia Market to reach Bata signal point and end at Paribagh.This road is now known as Old Elephant Road[2].
Use of Pilkhana
After the fall of Mughal Empire the place Pilkhana was continued to be such used and the then British Empire took over the place for their military activity.In the year 1876 AD Viceroy of India founded Frontier Force and established its Head quarter in Pilkhana. This Frontier Force changed its name as Assam Bengal Rifles in the year 1920 AD. After the achievement of Pakistan the name of this para-military force was changed to East Pakistan Rifles,EPR,thereafter during the Independence War of 1971 the name of EPR was changed to East Pakistan Civil Armed Force ,EPCAF. After the Independence of Bangladesh it was changed to Bangladesh Rifles,BDR and after the BDR carnage on 25th February 2010, it has been changed currently as Border Guard Bangladesh,BGB. Although with the passage of time the name of the said para-military force was changed on number of occasion,but the headquarter of it remain in Pilkhana.
The Atmosphere
Pilkhana is a magnificent place.It is a Oasis in the desert city of Dhaka.Its a beautiful Greenery.Pilkhana being maintained by a disciplinary force,everything inside Pilkhana is being placed as if picture in frame. From the space Pilkhana is seen as covered by the leafs of trees. Nothing could be seen peeping through this leafs. There are hundreds of thousands of different trees both of wood and fruit.There are number of Gardens. The roads inside Pilkhana are so beautiful that one can not imagine such roads and is adjacent in the Dhaka city. Pilkhana used to be one of the favourite destinations in Dhaka city. In no part of the city one would find in one place - gardens of rose and orchid, fields and another lucrative treat was the scenic beauty of Pilkhana. Recently huge sculptures were set at different point at Pilkhana adding extra beauty to it
How to reach there
Pilkhana being used as Head Quarter of Border Guard Bangladesh,a disciplinary force of Bangladesh,is a restricted area.It has 5 Gates to enter,one of such convenient gate, from the Dhaka New Market, adjacent to the residential locality New Paltan known as gate no.3,which has been recently (March 2013) named as 'Bir Sherestra Habibur Rahman Gate'. The other convenient entrance is Gate No.4 at Dhanmondi Road No.2,recently named as 'Bir Sherestra Salauddin Ahmed Gate'.Gate No.2 is at Azimpur Road and the Gate no.1 & 5 are at Hazaribagh area. A visitor can use any of these gates to enter Pilkhana, subject to obtain prior permission.Even private Cars intends to cross through Pilkhana is required to take 'Sticker'upon making applications in prescribed form obtainable from the office of Director general,BGB and to pay an amount of Taka.1000.00 as fee.
Sadden Scenario of Pilkhana
Pilkhana has the other face of the coin, full with sadden Story.This had occurred in 1971,1973 and 2010 AD,when a state of indiscipline,Bloodshed and Mutiny caused in Pilkhana.
1971,25th March.Pakistan Army made EPR forces as their prime target and raided Pilkhana at 12.00 Am on 25th March 1971,prior to which at the evening the Controlling West Pakistani Army officers disarmed the General soldiers of EPR.As many as 200 un-armed helpless Bangali EPR member fell dead by such raid. Dead bodies of these EPR members left in the Barracks for days and there after buried in mass grave within Pilkhana without observing any religious formalities [3]. This was an war Crime committed by Pakistan Army in invaded East Pakistan.
1973,25th March . Upon formation of BDR in 1972 Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman ordered for absorbing the Freedom Fighters in BDR which caused dissatisfaction among the erstwhile EPR member of the force. On 25th March in 1973 those section of the newly constituted BDR force revolted against the Freedom Fighter members of the Force and a day long firing continued in between these two section with total anarchy, chaos and indiscipline caused within Pilkhaha.At the afternoon Prime Minister BangaBandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman entered the Pilkhana through Gate No.3 with hand loudspeaker in hand declaring in her commanding voice in Bengali " AAmi Sheik Mujib Bolchi- AAmi Pilkhanai Dhookchi.Tomra Gooli Bandha Karo.AAR akta gooli o keu chalabe na ( I am Sheik Mujib speaking.I am entering Pilkhana.You stop firing. No body shall fire any more bullets).Upon hearing this magnificent voice instantaneously firing stopped[4] . Later the Prime Minister cleared off the freedom fighters from BDR.
2010, 25th February.The story of BDR Carnage. Unscrupulous BDR Members on, false plea, committed Mutiny on 25th February 2010 at 9 AM at Darbar Hall of Pilkhana, killing BDR Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed on the spot and killing as many as 80 Army officers some of their wives and family members including children, during 3 days of Mutiny.Both the killers and the victims are Bangladeshi.The whole nation mourn on this inhumane killing.