Senapati Dighi/Shenapoti Lake located in Kalkini upazila between Amratala and Khatial villages of Madaripur district is a historical landmark. On December 24, 1665 Shaista Khan's elder son Bujurg Umed Khan, trusted general Islam Khan, dug this dighi with an area of 60,703 square meters covering an area of about 15 acres. According to legend, during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, Umed Khan under the leadership of Subadar Shaista Khan stayed in Amratala and Khatial area between Baligram Union of Kalkini Upazila for some time on his way to Dhaka after driving away the Mughal pirates from Chittagong. At that time Commander Islam Khan's army dug this lake to alleviate the lack of water for the people of the area. For this reason the Dighi is named Senapati's Dighi. During the holidays, many visitors come to visit and picnic on the banks of this 350-year-old Mughal-era Dighi.
Senapati Dighi has a length of 288 meters and a width of 157 meters and a height of 13.5 meters per bank. There are various folk tales about the Dighi of the historical commander. The water in this lake surrounded by bamboo never dries up. It is said that horse races were held at this place after the digging of the lake did not produce water. At one point during the race, water started rising from the southern side of the lake and within moments the lake was filled with water. Once upon a time, if dishes were requested from the Dighi for various events, the dishes would come up on the banks of the Dighi at night, and after the event, they would leave them on the banks of the Dighi and take them back. Many of the local Hindus of Kalkini Upazila believe that the water of Senapati Dighi has special powers to cure diseases.
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