Amid the bustle of the capital, Hatirjheel remains a quiet refuge of nature. In its chess court park area next to the FDC, the arrival of spring has filled the branches with the reddish flowers of shimul (silk cotton) and palash. Every year, when spring comes, the place takes on a unique look.

In the middle of the noise of city life, this colourful beauty is like a breath of relief. The blood-red flowers blooming in this green space rest the eyes and draw the birds too. Here small birds perch on branches in search of nectar; there the play of light and shade is caught in the hanging clusters of flowers.

When spring comes to the chess court park, colour spreads quietly. The trees full of crimson flowers comfort city dwellers as well. Red shimul flowers spread between bare branches look like a fiery pattern against the empty sky, a scene that seems to carry the message of spring's arrival, as if the hanging clusters were announcing it.

Dense clusters of orange-red flowers make nature's exuberance plainer still. With the soft blend of light and shade, these eye-catching flowers bring peace to Dhaka's residents. Birds are quietly absorbed in the flowers; here a small bird sits on a branch looking for nectar. It is a living moment of urban nature that reminds us of how people and nature live side by side.

The delicate arrangement of petals, pollen and green buds shows nature's artistry more clearly. With red blossom all along the branches, visitors and passers-by sit to take in the sight. When spring comes, these trees bloom with striking red, yellow and reddish-orange flowers.

In the chess court area of Hatirjheel, fiery "red palash" and shimul flowers colour the whole setting with a distinctive spring atmosphere. The palash flower is like a silent poem of spring written in the colour of fire. When bright red-orange petals burst out together from dry branches, the lonely nature around suddenly comes back to life.

From a distance the trees seem to be ablaze, and up close a faint scent and a strange warmth lie hidden in the folds of the soft petals. Against the blue sky, dusty paths and patches of green, the bright colour of palash makes spring more lively and more alive. So palash is not just a flower, but a crimson symbol of the season's joy, love and new hope.

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