Brief
Chowk Bazar Shahi Mosque also known as Chowk Mosque is one of the oldest Mosques in Dhaka. It is located in the Chowk Bazar area of the old town of Dhaka, south to the current city center.
The mosque was constructed in 1676 by Subahdar Shayesta Khan (সুবাহদার শায়েস্তা খান). It is called ‘Shahi Mosque’ as it is founded by Subahdar Shayesta Khan. The mosque is built above a raised platform. The three domed mosque above the platform, now transformed into a multi-storied structure was originally a copy of Shayesta Khan’s another three domed mosque at the Mitford Hospital compound near the Buriganga River. Some square shaped rooms may be built for Imam and for students of the Madrashah. As a result of several renovation & reconstruction work, this mosque has lost its ancient original view.
History: This Mosque was constructed in 1676, as noted by an inscription in the Persian language over a gateway. The inscription attributes the project to Subahdar Shaista Khan. So far, this is known as the earliest dated mosque in the History of Muslim Architecture in Bengal, built on a high vaulted platform. Its architectural design was perhaps influenced by Tughlaq Architectures; such as Khirki Masjid or Kalan Mosque of Delhi. Influenced by this structure, some other mosques were built in Dhaka and Murshidabad.
Architectural Properties: The western half of the 3.05 meter high vaulted platform (28.65 meter from north to south and 24.38 meter from east to west) is occupied by the original three-domed mosque. It measures, inclusive of the four octagonal towers on the exterior angles, 16.15 meter by 7.92 meter. There are three four-centered archways in the east, all opening out under half-domed vaults. The half-domed vault of the central archway still contains beautiful Muqarnas works in stucco.
Corresponding to the three eastern entrances, there are three Mihrabs inside the west wall, all now redesigned. The central mihrab still has a semi-octagonal aperture, while its flanking counterparts are rectangular in design. The mihrabs are now all studded with lustrous pieces of enamel. The rectangular frames enclosing the mihrabs are now topped by rows of painted cresting. The floor of the mosque is now laid with marble.
Three bays divides interior view of this Mosque- the central one square shaped and the side ones are rectangular. All these bays were covered with domes, the central one being bigger than its flanking counterparts. This can be deduced from the newly built three-domed prayer chamber exactly above the original one, where the central dome has been kept larger than the side ones.
The vaulted rooms, all round underneath the platform, are either square or rectangular in shape. Many of them are now let out to shopkeepers and others are still being used as accommodation. The under ceilings of these rooms are flat on the top and barrel-shaped at the sides.
Very uniquely designed and Space utilized Madrasa & Mosque: The promenade around the three domed prayer chamber, since there was no separate structure for study purpose, might have been used for open-air classes and the vaulted room with book-shelves on their walls underneath the platform may have been designed to provide residential accommodation for those who used to teach and study here. In that perspective, Chawk Mosque may be regarded as the first known example of Residential Madrasa Mosque.
It is an ingenious way of accommodating two structures-a madrasa and a mosque in a single building which not only saved space but also a considerable amount of money.
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[name] => Vanga Shahi Masjid
[post_id] => 10254
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Vanga Shahi Masjid (ভাঙ্গা শাহী মসজিদ) is an ancient mosque in Bandura, Nawabganj. Its original year of establishment is not yet known. It is believed that it was built during the period of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, that's why it is assumed that it was built around 600 years ago.
The mosque has a legend about it. It is believed that one morning some people found it in the jungle with unfinished construction work. From that time the mosque has named "Vanga Masjid" as in the native language vanga (ভাঙ্গা) means broken. The Actual name of this mosque is still unknown.
But the truth may be like this- it was constructed at the age of Mughal Empire when Nawabganj area was a prominent merchant place. Due to erosion, local inhabitants changed their living place. At that time the mosque area was abandoned and forests grew rapidly at that area. After passing 100 years, people start making their residences in that particular area again. One day they found the mosque broken and reconstruct it.
Now it has became a well known mosque at Bandura Bazar in Nawabganj. People believe that donating here will turn their wishes true! So, the mosque has collected enough fund to built a minaret of 165 feet and still the renovation process is still going.
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[name] => Bandar Shahi Mosque
[post_id] => 10830
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/bandar-shahi-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Bondor-Shahi-Mosque-Narayanganj-021-225x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
Bandar Shahi Mosque (বন্দর শাহী মসজিদ ) is situated in the Bandar Municipal area. It was built in 1482 AD (886 AH) by Malik Al-Muazzam Baba Saleh, a high official under Sultan Jalaluddin Fateh Shah.
It is a square building measuring 6.20 meter a side in the interior and 9.70 meter in the exterior. It has four octagonal corner towers and a large hemispherical dome supported by two engaged black stone pillars embedded in each wall with square bases, capitals and octagonal shafts. The square inches which hold up the dome spring from the top of these pillars. The dome has a lotus and pitcher finial. The raising of the dome on a drum crowned with merlons seems to be part of Mughal renovations. There are three entrances in the east of which the central one is wider, measuring 2.20 meter high and 1.37 meter wide. The two other entrances each on the south and north sides are 2 meter high and 1 meter wide. The side entrances are of the same size as the front central one. Of the three semi-circular mihrabs, the central one is the largest and the northern mihrab is being used as a closet.
The mosque has been renovated and enlarged by verandas on the east, south and north sides. It is presently being used as a jami mosque.
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[name] => House of Poet Shamsur Rahman and Paratoly Mosque
[post_id] => 7325
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/bn/places/house-of-poet-shamsur-rahman/
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[post_content] =>
Shamsur Rahman ( শামসুর রাহমান, 23 October 1929 – 17 August 2006) was a famous poet, columnist and journalist of Bangladesh. Shamsur Rahman, who emerged in the latter half of the 20th century, wrote more than sixty books of poetry and is considered a key figure in Bengali literature. He was regarded the ‘unofficial poet laureate’ of Bangladesh. Major themes in his poetry and writings include liberal humanism, human relations, romanticism, rebellion of youth, the emergence of and consequent events in Bangladesh, and opposition to religious fundamentalism.
Shamsur Rahman was born in his grandfather's house at Mahut-Tuli, Dhaka. His paternal home is situated on the bank of the river Meghna, a village named Paratoli, near the Raipura Upazila of Narshingdi district. He was the fourth of thirteen children. During leisure time, he used to go his Village and there beside the pond near to the house, he wrote one of the great poems
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“স্বাধীনতা তুমি”
স্বাধীনতা তুমি
রবিঠাকুরের অজর কবিতা, অবিনাশী গান।
স্বাধীনতা তুমি
কাজী নজরুল ঝাঁকড়া চুলের বাবরি দোলানো
মহান পুরুষ, সৃষ্টিসুখের উল্লাসে কাঁপা-
স্বাধীনতা তুমি
শহীদ মিনারে অমর একুশে ফেব্রুয়ারির উজ্জ্বল সভা
স্বাধীনতা তুমি
পতাকা-শোভিত শ্লোগান-মুখর ঝাঁঝালো মিছিল…
Still today, all the things are in same spatial context. But, the building of his house is in very poor condition. It’s almost on the way to decay.
Paratoly Shahi Jem-e Mosque:
There is a three domed mosque beside the house of Shamsur Rahman, which was built in the Islamic year 1299.This 137 years old mosque still architecturally fit and being used for regular prayers.
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[name] => {:en}Nine Dome Mosque{:}{:bn}নয় গম্বুজ মসজিদ{:}
[post_id] => 1532
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Nine Dome Mosque is now a protected monument of the Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh. There are 3 pointed arched openings on the north, south and east sides adjoined within tall rectangular frames. The western wall is relieved with three semicircular mihrabs of which the central one is larger and is projected to the west.
The decorations of the multi-cusped mihrabs contains terracotta floral, scroll and foliage patterns within rectangular panels. Each Mihrabs center is decorated with chain and bell motif. Apexes of the arches have diaper designs and large rosettes at the spandrels. Rest three walls are relieved with only two niches in each.
The corner towers are round and are surfaced by eight bands of moldings. The exterior walls are eased with vertical panels. The curved cornice is very prominent.
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খান জাহান আলীর মাজারের অর্ধেক কিলোমিটারেরও কম দূরত্বে ঠাকুরদীঘির পশ্চিম তীরে নয় গম্বুজ মসজিদ অবস্থিত। এই মসজিদটি বর্তমানে বাংলাদেশের প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক অধিদফতরের অধীনে একটি সংরক্ষিত নিদর্শন। মসজিদটির উত্তর, দক্ষিন এবং পূর্বদিকে লম্বা আয়াতক্ষেত্রাকার কাঠামোর মধ্যে তিনটি ধনুকআকারের ফটক রয়েছে। নয়গম্বুজবিশিষ্ট মসজিদের পশ্চিম দিকের দেয়ালে তিনটি অর্ধ গোলাকার মিহরাব রয়েছে যেগুলোর মধ্যে মাঝখানের মিহরাবটি বড় এবং পশ্চিমদিকে হেলানো। খাঁজকাটা মিহরাবগুলোতে টেরাকোটার উপর আয়াতক্ষেত্রাকার কাঠামোর মধ্যে ফুল ও পাতার নকশা রয়েছে এবং মিহরাবের মাঝখানে শিকল ও ঘণ্টার নকশা রয়েছে। মসজিদের খিলানের শীর্ষে বুটির নকশা এবং খিলান, ছাদ ও দেয়ালের মধ্যবর্তী স্থানে গোলাপের নকশা রয়েছে। নয়গম্বুজবিশিষ্ট মসজিদের অবশিষ্ট তিনটি দেয়ালের প্রতিটিতে দুটি করে খিলান রয়েছে। মসজিদটির কোণায় অবস্থিত টাওয়ারগুলো গোলাকার এবং এগুলোতে আট স্তরের ঢালাই রয়েছে।
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