In 2020, I have plan to attend the meet-ups as much as possible. So I always keep my eyes open to see the announcement of meet-up held in our country. 21st February was the International Mother Language Day. On this occasion, Bangladesh Local Guides (BDLG) arranges 3 meet-ups in 3 different places of the country. Though the dates were different but due to the distance from my residence 130.1 meet-up was the nearest to me. It was almost 100 kilometers away from Dhaka.
How did I go?
The venue of this meet-up was the Naria Government College campus. From the beginning, this meet-up was a thrill to me, because to attend this meet-up I need to use speed boat for the first time in my life. Though I responded to the RSVP our host Minhazur Rahman Sunmoon was not sure that I will really take the risk to cross the mighty river Padma by a speed-boat just to attend a meet-up. But I knew that I am going.
So, on 21st February morning, I started my journey at 6.00 am from Kazipara Bus Stop to the Mawa Launch Station It took me 1.40 hours. It was early morning and due to less traffic, it took less time. But during return, it took me 3.30 hours even though it was night. Anyway, after reaching to Mawa, I took my breakfast inside the launch terminal. After that, I went to the boat terminal and got into a speed-boat. After a super thrilling journey of 40 minutes I reached the Naria Speed Boat Station. After getting down from the speed boat I phoned the host but even then he did not believe that I was coming to join the meet-up hosted by him. I also did not know that he did not believe my arrival, but later he disclosed the fact to me. I took a rickshaw and went to the college campus. In front of the college gate I met the host of the meet-up with other local guides. He warmly welcomed me there.
[Naria Government College Campus]
The first session of the meet-up:
At first, we offered flowers from Bangladesh Local Guides to the martyrs of language. I introduced myself to the other local guides who were present there. I brought some stickers which I distributed among local guides. Then we took some photos together. By this time I took some photos of the college campus. After this session, we went for a tea break. It was my morning tea on that day!!!
[Tea session. Sweets from another place]
Technical session:
After the tea break, we came back to the campus again and started our technical session on Google maps and connect forum. We tried our best to answer all the questions we faced. We helped some of the local guides to update the mas app, we explained how to add a missing place, how to edit a place, how to report a spammer, etc. We also explained about the connect forum and how to use it properly. We found some new local guides also. Things seemed a little tough for them. So we took time and try our best to explain the things in detail to make them understand. Some of the local guides were excited to know about how to join a meet-up held in Dhaka, we told the process to them. We exchanged our experience as a local guides. We spoke and listened. It was a very friendly and enjoyable moment. After the discussion, we took a short tour to visit the college campus. And then went for another tea session and after that said goodbye to some local guides.
[Mosques and shrines @ Naria]
Sightseeing:
The host of the meet-up took me to his residence for lunch. I became fresh ate something as pre-lunch and went to the mosque for the Friday prayer. After coming from the mosque we took lunch and then leave for the sightseeing in Naria Upazila town by motorcycle Naria town seems quite neat and clean to me. There are a lot of trees inside. We went to the bank of the Padma River. Then we went to the Mulfatgonj Madrasah Complex It is a huge complex with a mosque, a primary school, and a madrasah. After that, we went to the Majid Shah Darbar Sharif which is also a popular tourist spot. Then we came to Naria Upzila Health Complex . This hospital is at risk of being swallowed by the river Padma. Though the government is trying to save it but anytime things can be dangerous here.
[Left- A watchtower on the bank of the Padma and view from it. Right- Water of the Padma]
And finally, we came to the Buddhi Ram Hotel & Restaurant . This restaurant is famous for its Rosogolla. I have a plan to make a separate post on this restaurant. Here surprisingly I met a local guide who is doing small business. He became surprised by seeing me. I spent some happy time with him and requested him to join our next meet-up in March. Last speed-boat from Naria to Mawa was at 6.00 pm. So we were in a hurry to reach to the boat terminal. At 5.45pm I reached to the terminal and said Au-revoir to the host. I thanked him for hosting a nice meet-up and also for his hospitality to me. At 7.00pm I reached at Mawa and took my dinner there as the bus was little late to start. At 8.30pm I left Mawa and reached home at 11.30pm. I spent a whole day on running but I did not feel any tiredness. Rather I was feeling freshness inside. Such a beautiful meet-up it was.
[ With host, another local guide @MamunHawlader and his shop]
How to go to Naria from Dhaka:
-From Mirpur: you can use Shawdhin Express Paribahan â Fair will be 100 Taka/person
-From Uttara: you can use Prochesta Paribahn- Fair will be 100 Taka+/person
-From Gulistan: you can use Elish Paribahan- Fari will be 70-80Taka/person
-After reaching to Mawa Launch Terminal you need to use the speed-boat to go to Naria and fair will be 300 Taka per person. It is mandatory to use the life jacket in the speed-boat, no way to avoid.
[$1 = 82 Taka]
[Top- Pre-lunch and Bottom- lunch items @hostâs house]
What to see at Naria:
As I told Naria is very nice town. There a lot of things to see. You need at least one full day if you want to see the major tourist spots which I have mentioned above. But two days are better for the full satisfaction. I was surprised and amazed by seeing many wild monkeys here. I was very much interested to swim in the mighty Padma but due to the shortage of time I could not do that. But in future, I will not miss it.
[Dinner items @Mawa Launch Terminal]
Where to eat:
At Mawa Launch Terminal you will find a lot of restaurants. You can eat porta, Vaji, Dal, various fish curry, Biriyani, Tehari, Bread and many more items. It will be better if you bring drinking water from home. They will fry fish in front of you. The cost will be 100 Taka per fish curry. You will get many restaurants in Naria as well. So no need to be worried about foods and water.
I like to invite @Aruni to have a look at this meet-up recap.
Note: There are a lot of noise in the video. Sorry about that. I am a novice video editor.
