Kishoreganj is a district of water, legends, and vast horizons. A significant part of this district falls within the Haor basin, a wetland ecosystem that defines the lifestyle of its people. During the monsoon, the roads disappear, and villages turn into tiny islands floating in a massive freshwater sea. The recent construction of the 'All-Weather Road' through the Haor has opened up this region to tourism. Driving on this road is a surreal experience where you have water stretching to the horizon on both sides, making you feel like you are floating. It is breathtakingly beautiful, especially at sunset when the water reflects the changing colors of the sky. Places like Nikli Haor have become the new go-to spots for travelers who hire wooden boats to spend the day drifting on the calm waters.
But Kishoreganj is deep in history as well. It is the home of the largest Eid congregation in the country at the Sholakia Eidgah. Hundreds of thousands of people gather here to pray in unison, a spectacle of faith that is overwhelming in its scale. The district is also famous for the Pagla Mosque. This mosque has a mystic reputation, and people of all faiths donate massive amounts of money into its donation boxes, believing it brings good fortune. When these boxes are opened every few months, the counting of cash and gold takes days and makes national news. The district has produced some of the nation's greatest minds, including the artist Zainul Abedin and key political figures, giving it an intellectual weight.
Culinary explorers head to Austagram to find a rare Bangladeshi delicacy: cheese. The cheese of Austagram is unique. It is white, salty, and firm, somewhat similar to paneer or feta, and has been made by local families for generations. It is a dying art, but the taste is unlike anything else you will find in the local markets. The region is also the setting for the Mymensingh Gitika, a collection of ancient ballads that tell stories of love and tragedy in rural Bengal. Kishoreganj feels rustic and raw. It is a place where the struggle against the elements is constant, yet it has produced a culture that is rich, poetic, and deeply enduring.