Bengali patriotic song – Amay Genthe Daon Mago, a garland of palash flowers, I will keep you dear, the burning of losing a brother, – the flowers of this song are now spreading the charm of beauty in most areas of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway. People of all walks of life, including pedestrians, are lost in fascination. Seasonal spring brings back the vitality of nature after overcoming the harshness of winter. Palash is one of the messengers of Rituraj. If you don’t see the beautiful flowers in the nature of modern village-Bangla, it is as if spring is incomplete. Even if there is no fragrance, there is no pair of Palash to spread beauty. The presence of spring is heralded by the presence of hundreds of palash trees spreading their colors on the road dividing the busy Dhaka-Chittagong four lane highway. From the Chandina-Bagur bus station in Comilla to Elliotganj on the highway, there are numerous palash trees. The leaves of Phagun have conquered the rugged nature and stand tall above the bare branches, silently exclaiming beauty. In that division, trees are decorated with hundreds of flowers. All the flowers of the trees are blooming and the light is spreading. The leafless branches of the leafy palm are clothed with flowers. Rasi Rasi flowers lined up on each branch add an aesthetic touch to nature. The chirping of various birds including cuckoos and shaliks in the palash trees quenches the thirst of the nature lovers. The fastidious birds fly from one branch to another adding an extra dimension to the beauty. People of different ages come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of its charming form. Again, many people do not make the mistake of stopping private transport on the way to be caught on camera with Palash. Someone is picking the orange petals of the palash from under the tree. Once these palash trees and flowers were seen at the bends of rural roads, in gardens or everywhere, but now they are almost extinct. As it is difficult to find people who do not know the name of Palash, the number of boys and girls of this generation who know or have seen Palash flower is also very low. Resident of Chandina Upazila of Comilla, retired teacher Md. Nazrul Islam said, earlier in Chandina, a few palash trees were visible. For several years, the palm trees or flowers are no longer visible. The endangered tree from Chandina. However, I got to see this familiar flower again because of the planting of palash trees on the highway.
Shravani Akhter, a resident of Dhaka who stopped the car in Tirchar area of Chandina on the highway and took pictures, said that I have heard the name of Palash, but I have never seen him. Today, on the way to the highway, I could not stop the car after seeing such a charming scene. Now you know it’s Palash flower!
Rabindranath Tagore was impressed by Palash’s form and wrote, ‘Ranga Hasi Rashi Rashi/ Ashoke Palashe…/ Ranga Nesha Megha Mesha/ Day Aakashe’. Palash is our national poet with flowers.
Kazi Nazrul Islam also has a popular song- Yellow marigold flower, Ranga Palash flower Bring it or bring it I will not tie, I will not tie my hair…
Palash is called ‘Flame of the Forest’ in English. Another name of Palash is Kingshuk. Scientific name is ‘Butia monosperma’. Comilla Victoria Government College Associate Professor of Botany Department Meherunnesha said that the Palash tree is a member of the ‘Fabasia’ family. Palash can be up to 15 meters high. Its leaves fall in winter. The bark of the tree is grey, the branches and trunk are crooked. The new leaves of Palash are as fine as silk. The dark green leaves are trifoliate. Its flowers are similar to beans. The flowers bloom in bunches on the branches. The buds of Palasha look like the beaks of Tia and Myna birds. It is propagated by cuttings and seeds. This botanist feels that everyone should come forward to plant this tree which is full of medicinal properties.
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