The white Bhant flower, a well-known wild perennial shrub of rural Bengal, is currently spreading its natural beauty across the winding paths and roadsides of Narail. Growing naturally in neglected corners and along village meadows, these pure white blossoms are captivating nature lovers throughout the district.
While the flower is known by various names such as Bhaita, Ghetu, Bhat, Bonjui, or Ghantakarna in different regions, it is most commonly referred to as Bhant or Bhanti in Narail. As it typically blooms during the month of Choitra, it is also locally known as “Choiter Phool”.
The floral display is particularly prominent along the road through Chandpur-Bogura bill in Bashgram Union, the Lohagara-Mithapur main road, and the Kalia-Narail-Magura main road. Additionally, the flowers have bloomed in abandoned fields, forests, and near water bodies across the district, where bees are often seen collecting honey from them.
Scientifically identified as Clerodendrum infortunatum and known in English as the “Hill Glory Bower,” the plant is native to India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The shrub’s main stem stands straight, reaching heights of 2 to 4 metres, with rough, heart-shaped leaves measuring 4 to 7 inches in length.
The flowers, which bloom from spring through summer, feature white petals with a purple tint and emit a sweet fragrance, especially at night. However, locals observe that the species is becoming increasingly rare. Nannu Mohuri, a resident of Dattapara village in Auria Union, recalled that the flowers were far more abundant during his childhood.
Similarly, Shanta Khan from Tularampur Union and Fahim Sheikh from Kalia Upazila noted that while the flowers remain beautiful and fragrant, they are no longer as common as they once were.
Mohammad Arifur Rahman, deputy director of the Narail Department of Agricultural Extension, stated that the beauty of the Bhant flower continues to enchant people and can still be found along the roadsides of most villages in Narail.
