The nature loving people of the country too have been disappointed to know the present worst condition of this prestigious miniature botanical garden having a rich collection of rare and interesting plants. The garden is located in the heart of old Dhaka. It was built by Narendra Narayan Roy Chaudhury, the philanthropic naturalist landlord of the then Baldah state and it took more than three decades (1909-1943) to give a full shape of this garden with a rich collection of plants from about 50 countries of diverse geographic region. The layout of the garden was outlined by Roy Chaudhury himself. The garden consists of two parts, named by him as 'Psyche,' meaning the 'soul' and 'Cybele' meaning 'the mother of goddess of nature.'

The garden houses about 15,000 plants covering more than 600 species of around 335 genera belonging to 87 families. Among those, the unique ones are the famous Baobab plant (Adansonia digitata), which was collected from Africa and adapted in this garden. This plant became very famous for its use in preserving the Mummies in Central Africa long before the days of Pharoas. Camelia japonica, the famous flower of Japan, was collected from there and planted here successfully. It blooms in spring and focuses the depth of Roy Chaudhury's love for nature. There are the famous camellias that inspired Rabindra Nath Tagore, the greatest Bengali poet of all time, to compose his famous poem 'Camelia' during his visit to this garden in late 1920s. It is the only garden which both the Bangalee Nobel laureates -- Rabindra Nath Tagore and Amartya Sen -- visited and spent some time.

Baldah Garden possesses Marantia and Anthurum, which were collected from South Asiatic islands and planted here long back. Many other exceptional exotic plants of Baldah Garden came from many different countries such as Araucaria from north west part of the subcontinent Australia, Euphorbia and Cactii from tropical Mexico, Poplars and Pines from now Pakistan, Salix from Afganistan, Pothos from Java and Ceylon and Amherstia from Myanmar. In addition some interesting plant species from the neighbouring India, and some from Brazil, USA and Middle Eastern countries race this garden. The roses and orchids of diverse origin housed here are also the pride of this precious garden. The rarest green rose was adapted here.

In Psyche part there are some nicely arranged lily pools where our national flower and some other interesting hydrophytic plants are placed. There is a house only for Aloe plants. The unique climbing ivy (Ficus ripens var. heterophylla) was planted here and that enriched the floristic composition of this garden. The lotus tank housed the famous Amajan lotus (Victoria regia) and blue nympheas. Another prestigious collection of Baldah Garden is Bhojpatra (Malaleuca lecadndron), thin flaky barks of which were in olden days used as natural paper. Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), the Egyptian paper plant, which was used by the Chinese to make paper pulp in good old days, was collected and planted here. The Ashoke tree (Saraca indika) well known for its adventitious trunk flowering and the cannon ball tree (Couroupti guinensis) of this garden are equally famous for their rarity.

The famous pond, Sankhanidhi and the Sundial are located in Cybele part of the garden. Cybele with its broad central north-south walk lined with the familiar Magnolia plants and its formal rectangular sections and soft lawns with net work of smaller walkways is a source on merriment to the plant lovers and naturalists. The tomb of founder's only son on the lawn in the northern bank of the pond and the founder's tomb with engraved epitaph "I am a passionate lover of nature! With all her phase -- my joy for ever! ... So wish me non-return again! With all her best wishes for thee, Passer-by drop me a flower! -- Good-bye!" on the lawn in the south-east corner add solemnity to the garden's serene atmosphere. The interesting plants housed in this part include the birds of paradise plant, the Australian Arlines, Amherstia from Myanmar, the Baobab tree, Camellias, the Century plant of cold region, Terminalia catappa nut, Travelers tree. In addition there are rose garden, green houses, ferns, aroids and many other plant species of interest. The Sankhanidhi pond with hydrophytic plants has added to the beauty of the garden.

There is no doubt that this miniature botanical garden is the only garden of our country with so many rare plant representatives of diverse geographic origins. The garden is important from both academic and entertainment points of view. I had the opportunity to be acquainted with this garden first in 1969 when as student of Botany Department of Dhaka University we were taken to this garden on a botanical excursion. We all were surprised to see such a rich collection of exotic and indigenous plant species in this old miniature garden located in the heart of the city. The then superintendent of the garden, Amrita Lal Acharya, helped us to be familiar with the different plant species. This gentleman developed fancy for gardening from his father's association with Mr Proudlock -- the Englishman who designed the floristic layout of Dhaka's Ramna areas during the days of Viceroy Lord Curzon, when Dhaka became the capital of the then partitioned Bengal. Narendra Narayan Roy Chaudhury, the founder of Baldah Garden appointed Acharya as the Assistant Superintend of this garden in 1936. With Acharya's care the garden flourished more.

After the death of the great Roy Chaudhury on 13th August, 1943 problems arose on the maintenance of this garden. The personal effort of Acharya kept the garden alive but the expansion work ceased. After partition in 1947 the management of the garden was vested to the court of wards by 1951 but the situation did not improve. The grandson of Roy Chaudhury, Ananmi Prasad Roy Chaudhury, the heir of his maternal grandpa's property handed over the garden to the government in 1962 and Acharya was made the Superintend of the Garden by the Forest Department in July, 1962.

Though the responsibility of maintenance and improvement of the garden has been given to the Forest Department, all of us should share this responsibility. Unfortunately the garden is now endangered and the report appeared in a section of press reflects the present condition of the garden. Many high rise buildings have been constructed walling the garden and that has created a shady environment posing threat to the survival of the rare and interesting plants. Not only that some opportunists are trying to even grasp the land of Baldah Garden. In the name of collecting funds for maintenance of the garden Cybele part has been handed over to private agency and it has worsen the situation. This portion has been opened to common visitors making it a pleasure garden and taking this opportunity some unsocial elements are allegedly doing nuisance here, which must be stopped immediately. Because of lack of proper care some plant species have already disappeared and some are at endangered level. The garden played an important role in the field of plant science study in Bangladesh. We must appreciate the importance of the garden in the context of its foundation, rich collection and academic value. There is no doubt that it is a rare garden of its own kind, which inspires us to love nature and understand the significance of the conservation of biodiversity.

It is regrettable that when we are speaking much about conservation of biodiversity, creation of green environment and arranging seminars on these aspects, Baldah Garden, the pride of our country stands endangered. We all should come forward to save this precious precinct of plants. The Forest Department in collaboration with Dhaka City Corporation must take immediate step for creation of healthy environment, solving the disputes related to the garden's property and to stop construction of high rise building surrounding the garden. The slums walling the garden also should be shifted to some other areas and for that if needed provision of giving compensation may be created.

If required approach may be made to international organisations such as UNESCO, IUCN for their help in renovation and development of the garden. The NGOs working on environment and biodiversity should also come forward to save this garden. The academic and research institutions associated with plant science must extend their help for improving the situation. This garden really deserves special attention from all corners of our society for its existence. We must not fail in saving this garden for our progeny.

Dr S K Bhadra is Professor, Department of Botany, University of Chittagong