Mosque of Kartalab Khan

Atkandi Nilkuthi Mosque (আটকান্দি নীলকুঠি মসজিদ ) is situated in the Atkandi village of Raypura upazila, Narsingdi. It was built by a man named ‘Alim Uddin’. Alim Uddin built this Mosque just beside the grave yard of his wife ‘Sadetunnesa’. To build this Mughal stylistic Mosque he brought some masons from far land Mohishur, India. Some even compare it with Tajmahal, given its architectural style and the emotions behind it.

Alim Uddin completed his education on Islamic religion from Deobond and later worked as Teacher in a madrasa, conducted by Khawaza Family in Dhaka. Later in 18th century, he built this Mosque, however the exact date of founding this Mosque could not be determined.

It is a rectangular shaped Mosque. Which can be divided into three specific spatial context. We can exemplify it as below- 1. Inner zone 2. Exterior Corridor zone 3. Exterior Porch zone (under open sky)

Inner Zone of this Mosque contains three domes, and a Mihrab. Among these, three bulbous domes, among which the middle one is the biggest. The inner zone contains two entrances.

Exterior corridor zone of this mosque is elongated in north-south forming a rectangular shape. It contains five bulbous domes, which is smaller than other three. This zone also contains five entrances which are arch shaped and decorated with multi foiled design. In parapet it’s decorated with the Merlon design. In the base line of outer wall it’s decorated with a pitcher design.

Exterior porch zone of this mosque was built considering the large gathering which take place. It’s a square shaped plastered floor, with one feet high bordered wall all around the porch. It contains a main gateway to enter into the Mosque.

Public gathering in different occasion:

In different kind of public occasions, like in the eve of Eid-festivals and in common vacations people from different parts of the country come here to visit this place. On the southern part of this Mosque there is an old Ghat (in the edge of a river) which has stepped down to the branch of Meghna river. So far we know, it was built by G.P. Wize when this region was a place to plant indigo in a massive scale.

Present Condition and ruins of several unrevealed structure:

Present condition of this Mosque is not so consistent in a sense of building strength. It is in very sensitive condition, where it is randomly being used without any treatment of conservation & preservation. That’s why we can observe some deterioration in the brick building both in Exterior & interior part.

In the northern part of the Mosque there are some ruins of buried structure. Some outer portion of that buried structure is seem like spherical shape. Which demands more exploration and systematic archaeological excavation to reveal the history behind this region.

Sonargaon contains quite a number of Archaeological evidences, helping the scholars to reconstruct the Medieval History of Sonargaon area of Bangladesh. Goaldi Mosque, one of the very few surviving medieval monuments in the city of Sonargaon. About 6 km north-west of the little township of Panam, near Sonargaon in Narayanganj district, there are two such precariously surviving old single-domed mosques in the sequestered hamlet of Goaldi, virtually hidden behind thick bamboo brakes and clusters of mango and jackfruit tree groves.

Built in 1519, the graceful, single-domed Goaldi Mosque is the most impressive of the few extant monuments of the old capital city, and a good example of pre-Mughal architecture. This mosque is one of the few remnants from the Sultanate period in Sonargaon, during the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah in 925 Hijri (1519 AD). It was built by Mulla Hizabar Akbar Khan in the early 16th century, during the reign of Alauddin Husain Shah at a place called Goaldi - half a mile northeast of Panam village in Sonargaon. Sonargaon was the administrative center of medieval Muslim rulers of East Bengal. It became as the capital of Bengal during Isa Khan's ruling. The area falls under present-day Narayanganj District, Bangladesh. This mosque is more elegant and ornate in comparison to the earlier Sultanate mosques at Bagerhat.

There are some ornamental black stone pillars inside the prayer hall for the support of the roof. Corresponding to the three arched doorways on the east there are three richly decorated mihrabs on the west wall, of which the central one is bigger and beautifully embellished with curved floral and arabesque relief on dark black stone, but the flanking side mihrabs are ornamented with delicate terracotta floral and geometric patterns. The central stone mihrab is framed within an arched panel with an expanded sunflower motif in the centre. Below that the spandrels of the multi-cusped arch of the mihrab are decorated within a rectangular frame. The engrailed arched recess is carried on stunted octagonal pillars faceted at stages. Four round-banded turrets at the outer corners rise up to the curvilinear cornice.

Hazrat Sayed Shah Rasti (R.A) is a celebrated Sufi Muslim figure in Bengal. Shah Rasti's name is associated with the Muslim movement into north-eastern Bengal and the spread of Islam in Bangladesh. He spread Islam in Bangladesh through Sufism, part of the long history of travel between the Middle East, Central Asia, Indian Subcontinent and East Asia. He was buried in Chandpur, Bangladesh, formerly known as Shahrasti, while the Thana, post office, Upazila, and School are named in his honor.

Early life and education: Shahrast's date and place of birth is not certain. He was Born in Mecca, Arab and later moved to Bagdad, Iraq as a child with his family. He excelled in his studies a studied in Islamic study and Islamic theology. He achieved spiritual perfection (Kamaliyyah) after years of study and meditation.

Travel to India: According to legend, He came in India with a group of Muslim saints. All saints had a handful of soil, they had to choose to settle and propagate Islam in any place in India where the soil exactly matched. Shahrasti reached India in c.1300. He matched the soil with the soil of Camilla and stayed on a hill. But the place was wrong. After that, a tiger came to him to the right place where the soil exactly matched that later life.

During the later stages of his life, Shahrasti devoted himself propagating Islam. Under His guidance, thousands of Hindus and Buddhists converted to Islam. His brother Sayed Shah Mahbub and two companions were with him. He was unmarried; his Brother Shah Mahbub’s son Sayed Shah Giasuddin was his successor and descendant. His descendants are still living in beside the Dargah. He is buried in Chandpur in his Dargah (Tomb), which is located in Shahrasti, the area is named in his honor. His shrine is famous in Chandpur and throughout Bangladesh, with hundreds of devotes visiting daily.

Jamalpur Shahi Mosque is one of the oldest mosque in Gaibandha district. It was built by Hazrat Maulana Shah Jamal (R). There are no specific inscription behind the proper construction period of this mosque. There is a Folklore that a war had been occurred between Hazrat Shah Jamal and contemporary Hindu Raja Khirodhar (ক্ষীরোধার) where Raja Khirodhar was defeated by Shah Jamal (R). For preserving this victory, Hazrat Shah Zamal (R) built this mosque just in one night.

The people who are living here, have strongly believe about this Myth. There is also a pond in front of the mosque which was also built by Shah Zamal in one night.