Water lilies bloom in Chalan Beel's Baghmara drawing crowds
Water lilies have bloomed in the Baghmara beel of Sirajganj's Tarash upazila, drawing numerous visitors. The flowers have reappeared here regularly since 2020 after an absence of about four decades.
A vibrant display of blooming water lilies has transformed the Baghmara beel located in the Shakuadighi area of Tarash upazila in Sirajganj district. The natural spectacle has successfully attracted a large number of tourists and nature enthusiasts who have gathered at the scenic location to witness the remarkable aquatic scenery firsthand.
Botanically classified as a perennial aquatic plant, the lotus or water lily has brought renewed life to the wetland. According to verified historical records, the vast Chalan Beel region previously boasted an extensive water-logged expanse, with its submerged area measuring over 500 square miles back in the year 1827.
Subsequent historical documentation, specifically a survey report conducted on the Chalan Beel in 1909, recorded a significant reduction in its size, showing the total area had decreased to 142 square miles. In present times, the dry season water-logged area of the Chalan Beel shrinks further to a mere 85 square kilometers.
Geographically, the wider Chalan Beel area encompasses a complex network of 39 individual beels spanning a combined area of 1,757 hectares under various local names. Historically, the broader ecosystem of the Chalan Beel region was known to host a diverse variety of flowering plants, ferns, mosses, and algae.
Local accounts and observations highlight that water lilies have been blooming regularly in the Baghmara beel since 2020, marking a notable return after a prolonged absence of approximately four decades. Visitors arriving at the site have expressed profound appreciation for the enchanting natural beauty now visible across the wetland waters.
