In the early twenties, Teknaf was very famous for trading of rice, timber, beetle leaf, and dried fish. The smuggler’s also used Teknaf as a gateway for Rice and precious stones smuggling from Burma (Myanmar).Most of the local inhabitants were Rakhine. Piracy was quite common in these dryfish-04 parts and the traders and the local community had to be protected. So to protect the traders and enforce law and order in the area a police station (Thana) in Teknaf was established. Mr.Dhiraj was posted to Teknaf as the Officer-in-Charge. Dhiraj took up his position in the thana and found that the Rakhine’s were quit friendly and helpful. Law and order is OK, so he had ample time to move around.
At that time Teknaf had a drinking water problem. The only drinking water well was situated in the thana campus. Everyday Rakhine girls come to fetch water early in the morning. Regularly Dhiraj sit in front of quarter with a cup of tea and watch the girls fetching water from the well.
One morning Maathin, the only daughter of the local Rakhine Zamindar came to fetch water. She was stunningly beautiful. They (Dhiraj and Maathine) saw each other. For both of them, it was love at first sight. After that day, Maathine found all the excuses to make non-water fetching visits to the thana campus frequently to spend some romantic moments with Dhiraj. Both would often spend hours together and planning a happy life together. But Maathine’s family could never think of accepting Mr.Dhiraj an outsider and police officer. Maathine was only daughter of the highly respected Zamindar. But love recognizes no boundaries. As time passed by, the Maathine –Dhiraj romance and love ran deeper.
One day, news reached to Dhiraj that his father was very ill. His family calls him back to home. He gave Maathine the news and informing her that he had to leave for home on a month’s leave. He will come back very soon. Maathine was unwilling to let Dhiraj to go before their marriage Maathine was not sure if Dhiraj would ever return from home to marry her. Dhiraj failed to convince Mathine, and one evening silently he left Teknaf for home (Calcutta). Maathine realized that it was not his father’s illness that had taken him to Calcutta. Rather it was Dhiraj’s indecision to marry Maathine that made him left Teknaf silently. She stopped taking food and soon became sick. Having all assurance from her father, Mother and all family members none could change her mind. From morning till evening she would sit near the well in front of Dhiraj’s house hopping of seeing her beloved Dhiraj return. She became frail and weak. One day Maathine breathed her last, leaving her family, friends and the neighbours in great grief and sorrow.Since the death of Maathine the well in the Teknaf thana campus has become a symbol of love.
The police authorities took measures to preserve the well naming it as “Maathine’s Koop”.
When you visit Teknaf do not forget to drop a petal in “Maathine’s Koop”.
