"Krishnachurar lal agun jwele diye amar buke acho tumi mahasukhe..." In the 1990s, when this song played in the rich voice of singer Hasan Chowdhury, it stirred young hearts in a special way. Times have changed and digital music apps have replaced the cassette player, but the "red fire" of the krishnachura has not faded.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, 22 April, a krishnachura tree in full red bloom in the area next to the Gulshan-Hatirjheel lake in the capital seemed suddenly to carry people back to memories of old days.

Several krishnachura trees stand in their prime along the lake shore. Among the grey buildings of brick and stone, the red is a shower of relief. On a hot summer afternoon, when the trees are reflected in the clear blue water of the lake, it looks like a living picture painted in watercolour by a skilled artist.

Krishnachura trees were once seen in large numbers along Dhaka's streets, but the pressure of urbanisation over recent decades has greatly reduced them.

The pleasant lakeside setting is now a place for passers-by and busy city dwellers to stop for a moment. Some capture the crimson beauty on their smartphones, while others hum the old tune to themselves, as if a piece of Dhaka were arranged like a picture.

Hasan Chowdhury's "red fire" may speak of separation, but the krishnachura by the Gulshan lake is lighting a lamp of joy in city dwellers' hearts today. Protecting this natural beauty and keeping every corner of the city this colourful is the responsibility of all of us.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.