Bill Root Canal Gopalganj

Bill Root Canal is a traditional canal flowing along the Madaripur- Gopalganj highway and Arpara Munsibari. Arial Khan and Madhumati rivers join together in Tekerhat area through Bill Root Canal. Besides, most of the small and big canals and wetlands of Madaripur district are united through Bill Root Canal, so the locals call this canal Madaripur Bill Route. In 1858, Sir Arthur Cotton presented a proposal to dig the Bill Root Canal, but the excavation of this canal started in 1899. Later in 1914 it was opened for public use.

Bill Root Canal known as the Suez Canal of Bengal is about 60 kilometers long, 400 feet wide and about 30 feet deep. The excavation of the Billroot Canal or Cut Madhumati has facilitated waterway communication with Khulna to Chandpur, Narayanganj and Dhaka. When returning from Arpara, you have to return through this canal. Shushuk or native dolphins are found in this canal due to the greater depth of the confluence of Arial Khan and Madhumati River. On a full moon night, the reflection of the moon on Bill Root Canal creates a mesmerizing atmosphere.

Gopalganj can be reached by road and sea from Dhaka. Gopalganj bound Palash, Comfort, Tungipara Express, Sohel, Rajdhani, BRTC, Madhumati etc. buses from Dhaka's Gabtali and Syedabad bus terminals ply through Padma Bridge. AC/Non-AC buses will cost Tk 500-900 depending on the class. You can board these buses and get down near Bill Root Canal on the side of Tekerhat-Gopalganj highway.

For staying in the heart of Gopalganj district town, there are several standard residential hotels namely Hotel Palash, Hotel Rana (02-6685172), Hotel Taj, Hotel Sohag (0668-61740), Hotel Rifat and Hotel Shimul. According to the type and standard, the room rent in these hotels ranges from 400 to 1200 taka. Apart from this, there are Gopalganj District Council Cottages, (Contact: Chief Executive Officer, Zila Parishad, Phone: 0668-61204) and Gopalganj Circuit House (Deputy Collector, Phone: 02-6685234, 02-6685565).

Feature Image: Mahbubur Rahman