Trip to Mohini Mill-Kushtia
Who does not know about the Mohini mill? Mohini Mills was one of the largest textile mills in Asia. Its location is in the Milpara area of Kushtia district. In 1908 Mohini Mohan Chakraborty started this textile mill on his initiative named “Mohini Mills and Company Limited”. At that time this place was included in the Mohokuma Nadia district which was considered the heart of the city. Since Kushtia railway station, river port, Goalanda ghat, etc. were nearby, it was easy to reach the manufactured goods all over Bengal. Initially, this mill started with 8 looms, but within a few years, the number of workers reached close to 3000 people. This mill made about 500 pieces of dhoti and saree daily.
The first blow to Mohini came after the Indo-Pakistani War, in 1965. The Pakistani government declared the mill as enemy property and expelled all the mill owners from the country. All the properties of the mill, machinery, schools, fields, ponds, hospitals, and temples were given under the East Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation later. After that, the mill was started many times but its condition started to deteriorate day by day. In July 1965, the mill was completely closed due to heavy losses and bankruptcy.
Of the 99 bigha property of the mill, there is a factory on about 28 bigha of land. The parts inside the factory are abandoned. The BMRE unit is now closed. The land has four mosques, four temples, a school, a college, a playground, and a charity hospital. Several lands and structures are in the possession of influentials. The entire site of the mill is now within the Kushtia municipality. According to the current price of the land, the price per cotta is above 20 lakh Tk. According to that, the market price of 99 bigha land is about Tk 2000 crore.
Mohini Mill was the largest textile mill in Bangladesh and Asia. It was the first textile factory established in Bangladesh. Although it is currently closed, I have been wanting to see this mill out of curiosity for a long time. Two steps from Tegar Lodge, I came to see Mohini Mill. When you walk in the Milpara area you get a Kolkata feel. There are many old houses on both sides of the road. These houses stand carelessly and are neglected due to the lack of proper supervision. A few residents showed the way where Mohini Mill was. Seeing the no-entry sign made me sad. An officer in charge could not be allowed me inside even though I requested him. He said that there was nothing to see inside. From the outside, some of the massive machines scattered inside the mill can be seen. It is known that most of the machinery of the mill has been sold. The condition of the machines is poor due to negligence There are cracks in different parts of the wall. It is almost a broken state. Although I was not allowed to enter inside, we saw another destruction of Bangladesh from outside.
How to go to Kushtia Mohini Mill?
Mohini Mill is located in Milpara of Kushtia District. Kushtia can be reached by either bus or train.
How to go to Kushtia by bus-
Route 1- Buses like Shyamoli Paribahan, Mamun, FK Super Deluxe, SB Super Deluxe, KTC Hanif, etc. go directly to Majampur in Kushtia. You can get these buses from Dhaka’s Gabtali or Kalyanpur. All non-AC buses fare 600-700 Tk. It will take 5-6 hours. AC bus fare 1000-1200 Tk. You can get an auto/rickshaw from Majampur to go to Mohini very easily. The fare is Tk 40-50 per person.
Route 2- Go to Kumarkhali via Daulatdia from Gabtoli Bus Terminal. Diganta Paribahan, Lalon Paribahan, Zaman Paribahan, and Rabeya Paribahan will reach Kumarkhali in 4-4.5 hours. Fare 400-450 taka per person. You can hire a CNG/auto from Kumarkhali to Kushtia Alauddin Mor. Van/auto ply from Alauddin Mor to any spot.
Route 3- (if the budget is low) From Gabtoli to Paturia local bus fare is 80-100 taka. The ferry/Launch has to cross Daulatdia Ghat from Paturia. Ferry fare- 25 taka. Then go to Kushtia by train or bus from Daulatdia. Trains at 1 pm and 3 pm. Local train fare is Tk 30, Intercity train fare is Tk 85. And you will get a bus from Daulatdia to Padma, Gorai, etc, the fare is Tk 150-180.
How to reach Kushtia by train-
Inter-City Benapole Express (Holiday-Wednesday), Chitra Express (Holiday-Monday), and Sundarban Express (Closed Day-Tuesday/Wednesday) travel regularly from Dhaka to Kushtia and Kushtia to Dhaka. When you travel by train, you have to get off at Poradaha in Kushtia.
– Benapole Express leaves Dhaka Kamalapur station at 11.15 pm and reaches Pordaha station in Kushtia at 5 am. Again it leaves Poradaha at 3:50 pm and reaches Dhaka at 9 pm.
– Sundarban Express leaves Dhaka Kamalapur at 8.15 am and reaches Poradaha at 2 pm. Again it leaves Poradaha at 1.35 p.m. and reaches Dhaka at 9 a.m.
Dhaka – Khulna – closing day is Wednesday.
Khulna – Dhaka – Closing day is Tuesday.
– Chitra Express leaves Dhaka Kamalapur at 7 PM and reaches Poradaha Station at 12:15 PM. Again it left Poradaha at 12:24 pm and reached Dhaka Kamalapur at 5.30 pm.
Dhaka/Kushtia to Kushtia/DhakaTicket Price- 360 Taka (S chair), Snigdha 690 Taka AC berth 1242 Taka. Buy tickets online.
To travel to Kushtia you have to get down at Poradaha station first. From there you can take a van/auto to Mohini Mill. You can reserve an auto also. If there are 4/5 members in the group, it is better to go directly by auto reserve. You can get down at Chourohash/Majampur and take a rickshaw to go to the Mohini mill.
Where to eat in Kushtia?
Kushtia is also famous for its food. After getting off the bus from Mazampur in the morning, many food hotels will be seen. You can have breakfast at Biswas Hotel, Bismillah Hotel. A little further from Majampur, you can also have breakfast at the Maubon Hotel. The sweets of this hotel are very famous.
List of some famous foods of Kushtia-
-Breakfast- Khichuri from Jahangir Hotel, Parota-Sabji-Dal-from Biswas Hotel or Shilpi Hotel in Mazampur.
-Luchi-Dal- 6 road junction
-Beef, Kalo Beef Vuna, khichuri, Banana cup curd – Bismillah Hotel, Mazampur Gate
– Shor cha (tea), toasted bread – Zafar Mama’s Shop, Panti Mor, Lahini Battala
– Sora Doi (Yogurt), Ghol- Liaquat Ali Dairy, Bok Mor
-Tea- Aparajita Tea Stall, Government College Grounds.
– You can try some chops, and chicken fries in front of the bank branch in Lahini Bottala, There are several shops, just go to the opposite bank.
– If you want to have coffee,milkshake, KitKat shake, or Oreo shake, go to the Espresso coffee shop south side of Bokchatwar (tell someone and they will show you).
-You will see Lalu uncle’s khasi tikiya(mutton Tikka) below it, you can try it.
-Nanna Biryani at Ektara Mor, NS Road,
-Kacchi at Mughal Cuisine.
-Chinese items (fried rice, chicken fry, curry, vegetable, beef curry, soup etc.)
If you want to eat, Karamay Chinese, or John’s Park, the price is a little higher but the food is the best in Kushtia
-Street food is available from 5/5:30 PM onwards from Kataikhana Mor to College Mor throughout the NS Road.
– If you want to eat sweets, Moubon Hotel is good, the price here is a little higher. But famous for sweets.
-An uncle makes puri, shingara, and potato chops at Haribasar Mor. Also in the narrow lane in front of the Gandhi Hotel in Big Bazar, Puri is available there, which is also good.
-Fuchka, Chotopti- Famous Khokon Bhai’s Fuchka, It can also be found in Bangabandhu Market.
Kulfi Malai – Kushtia’s Kulfi Malai is famous. You can find it everywhere but it is best in certain places. You can eat from Haripur Bridge, Kumarkhali New Bridge, Kuthibari, etc. Kulfi Malai is 50-60 Tk. Also must try Tiler(sesame) Khaja.
Hotels in Kushtia-
There are some residential hotels to stay in Majampur bus stand. The nightly rent of these hotels starts from 300/500 Tk. During the on-season i.e. Lalan Mela, the rates of hotels increase comparatively.
Names and numbers of some hotels are given below-
1) Hotel Al Hayat, Majampur Bus Stand, Kushtia
Contact – 01731-687553, 01312-665556
2) Hotel Sunmoon, Majampur Gate, Kushtia
Contact-01316-035091, 01837-760722
3) Hotel Taiyiba International, Majampur Bus Stand, Kushtia
Contact- 01763645145
4) Desa TARC, Kushtia
Contact – 01720-510330
Sightseeing places around Mohini Mill-
- Tagore Lodge
- Mir Mosharraf Hossain Bastuvita(House)
- Rabindrakuthi
- Jagati Station
- Lalan Akhra
- Kangal Harinath Museum
- Gorai Bridge
- Rainyuk Dam
- Kushtia Municipality etc.
