Haor, a habitation surrounded by an enchanting natural beauty, remains dry, dreary with miles long crop-land, dusty walkway and narrow-silvery rivulets in winter but during the monsoon, these rivulets are full of water and flood the surrounding landmass turning it to a vast expanse of water-world compared to the sea.
As the history says the greater Sylhet and the greater Mymensingh regions were once submerged under a vast water body known as ' Kalidaha Sagor'. In course of the geo natural evolution, it later turned to a saucer shaped low-lying plane. This plane land is now known as Haor.
There are total of 97 haors in 13 upazilas of Itna, Astogram, Mithamoin, Bhairab, Bajitpur, Kuliarchar, Nikli, Kishoreganj sadar, Pakundia, Hossainpur, Karimganj and Tarail. During the full monsoon, the water of those Haor seems to a vast sea while the villages inside look like islands. The geographical position of the Haor shapes the livelihood of the local people.
People of the Haor depend mainly on agriculture and on fisheries and used to spend a happy life. But, the influence of Climate Change has now dragged the Haor people's lives into an uncertain, hopeless situation. Often, the water of Haor took to a horrendous shape with strong wind and gigantic waves in water. The turbulent waves hit the surrounding villages destroying houses and trees. The boats capsize if not anchored immediately. With the help of local people, the government has prepared Protection Walls around many villages and taking various projects on River Administration and Flood Management to improve quality of livelihood in Haor areas.
The soil of Haor land is very ferile and huge amount of paddy is grown here. The Haor region is often termed as the Food Store of Bangladesh. More than 70 percent people of the region depend on agriculture. However, the flood from the upstream hill regions often made the farmers panicky of plunging their standing boro paddy during the Bangla month of Chaitra while during the month of Falgun, the Haor region faces an acute shortages of water as all canals and water bodies of the region are dried up and cracks are formed on the crop land due to scarcity of water.
Most of the rivers of the Haor region have lost their navigability and chars have been formed on the beds of the rivers. Due to absence of irrigation facilities, some farmers keep their lands fallow for years. To save the farmers of haor from the grip of water scarcity and to save Boro paddy from flood and drought, the government has taken a project entitled 'Kalni-Kushiara Project'. The implementation of the project will ensure irrigation facilities in the haor land and resume communication through riverine routes.
Kishoreganj Haor is one of the largest Fish stores of the country. A huge amount of fish and mussels are produced in the water bodies of the haor. Braving storm and strong wind, hundreds of fishermen engaged in fishing and collecting of mussels with fishing boats, trawlers and nets during the monsoon. Local people and non-government organisations working in the haor region demand to increase the number of fish sanctuaries in the region to increase fish production here.
Haor region is also enriched with an ancient civilization and culture. Masnad-e-Ali Isha Khan was supposed rule the Haor region during the region of Mugal ruler emperor Akbar. The haor region also played an important role during the anti-British movement.
Haor people also bear an ancient legacy of Bangalee arts and culture. The famous Baul song, Sari song, Jari song, Marriage song, Shariati, Marfati, Murshidi, Marami, folk songs, Bhatiali, Pala song, Ghetu song and various religious songs including the physiotheory have given the haor region a distinct identity.
The haor region is also famous for tourism. The 'Delhir Akhra' is one of the most famous tourist sites of Katkhail union under Mithamain upazila of Kishoreganj district. The area is surrounded by thousands of Hijol trees. There is a story circling these 400-year old Hijol trees. Once upon a time, a saint used to live in this place. His contemplation was often disturbed by the demons. Being frustrated with their act, the saint using his supernatural power turned those demons into Hijol trees.
The name 'Delhir Akhr'a also derived from an incident. During the rule emperor Jahangir, some boats carrying gold coins were passing through the river. When the boat reached near the abode of the saint, a boat with the gold coins drowned into the river. Passengers of the boat failed to recover those drowned boat and the coins.
Then they went to the saint and sought his help to recover the coin laden boat. The saint with his supernatural power let the boat rise from the bed of the river and float it on the water. Hearing the incident, emperor Jahangir donated three hundred acres of land for the abode of the saint. Thereafter the area is known as 'Delhir Akhra'. The Hijol trees are still seen surrounding the Delhir Akhra.
The Delhir Akhra is surrounded by a religious institution, a drama-temple, guest room, cook house and rooms for the Vaishnavas. Now, three Vaisnabas including Mohanta Narayana run the Akhra where 40 to 50 labourers have taken refuge. All the people here are vegetarians. Visitors can spend their nights here. There is another Akhra known as Bithogol Akhra in nearby Baniachang under Habiganj district.
There are also several places of tourists attraction. These are 450 year old five domed Kutub Shah mosque, Ayrangjeb mosque, Itna Shahi mosque built by Isha Khan and Gurui mosque built during the Mughal reign. The cross dams built across the haor create an enchanting beauty when the region is full of water. Hundreds of people visit the dams to watch the beauty of the vast expanse of hoar water. Some private organisations are offering boat riding for the tourists through the haor water. Planned private and the government projects would turn the entire haor region into an attractive tourist’s hub.
