Century-old Zamindar Suresh Chandra public library-Photo: BSS

DINAJPUR, Jan 16, 2026 (BSS) - The historic century-old Zamindar Suresh Chandra Public Library, located on the banks of the Chhoto Jamuna River in Phulbari upazila of the district, is on the verge of extinction due to prolonged neglect, lack of maintenance and absence of regular funding.

Phulbari upazila BNP president and former Principal of Mohila College Md Khurshid Alam Moti said on Thursday afternoon that the traditional public library, situated within the Phulbari Municipality area, once played a vital role in spreading the light of knowledge among local people. However, due to negligence and carelessness during the rule of the previous government, the library has now reached a critical stage.

He said the matter was recently brought to the attention of the Phulbari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), urging immediate steps to protect and revive the institution. At the beginning of the new year, a formal presentation was made to UNO Hasan Ahmed, who reportedly assured that initiatives would be taken to keep the library operational during its centenary year.

Seventy-five-year-old retired schoolteacher Md Jamil Uddin expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the library, saying future generations would be deprived of their history and heritage if it disappears.

"From a distance, the building now looks like an abandoned haunted house. Vines cover the walls, weeds fill the courtyard and spider webs hang behind locked doors," he said, adding, "Once, it was a vibrant center of learning, a shelter for knowledge seekers and a repository of priceless information."

According to historical records preserved by Jamil Uddin, the library was established in 1916 in Sujapur village on the west bank of the Chhoto Jamuna River at the initiative of then Phulbari Zamindar Suresh Chandra Roy and his son Khitis Chandra Roy. It was built adjacent to Sujapur High School to address the shortage of textbooks and reading materials for poor and ordinary students and was named Suresh Chandra Public Library in memory of the Zamindar.

At its peak, the library housed a vast collection of books, including textbooks and works on literature, history, philosophy and science. Over time, however, the library gradually declined, mirroring the fate of the once-flowing Chhoto Jamuna River.

The most devastating blow came during the War of Liberation in 1971, when Pakistani occupation forces set fire to the library, destroying priceless books and furniture. After decades of inactivity, reconstruction efforts began on October 14, 2011. A new building was constructed on part of the adjacent land, and the old structure was renovated. 

In 2012, 1,120 valuable books were added to its collection. An additional room was built in 2015 with a donation of Taka two lakh, and a computer training center was opened in 2017, benefiting educated youth in the area.

Despite these efforts, the library once again fell into decline due to the lack of funds for staff salaries and maintenance. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic when all activities came to a halt. On January 19, 2023, six computers from the training center were stolen, dealing a final blow to its operations.

Phulbari UNO Hasan Ahmed said he had recently visited the library and instructed the management committee to clean the premises and make arrangements to reopen it. 

He also assured that initiatives would be taken gradually to address manpower shortages and other challenges. 

Local residents and intellectuals have urged the authorities to take immediate and sustainable measures to save the historic library, describing it as an invaluable symbol of the region's educational and cultural heritage.