রাজা কেশব রায়ের বসতভিটা

Pakutia Zamindar Bari resides under the administration of Nagarpur of Tangail district. This Zamindar Bari complex comprises of three main buildings. Out of these three, one is much larger compared to other two’s. The larger one is using as a Degree college these days and also the college authority holds the ownership of other two edifices as well. But they have rented Pakutia Zamindar Bari to other organization.

Initially the Zamindari was established by the hand of Ramkrishna Shaha Mondol at the early of 19th century. He has two sons named Radha Gobinda and Brindaban Chandra. Radha Gobinda didn't have any children but Brindaban Chandra had three. They are Brojendro Mohon, Upendra Mohon and Jogendra Mohon. Childless Radha Gobinda adopted the second son of his brother and later gave his whole property to him.

These three brothers later built three separate buildings for them in 1915 (almost 100 years from now). Each of the buildings are having extreme artwork & design, stylish columns, and small statues. Each inches of the building is having a delicate design that impresses everyone even these days. Top of the building is having a lovely sculpture type architecture that is rich in design, concept, and artwork (more if I consider the building period) in this modern days. Apart from these, there are several large ponds located at the backyard of the building.

This Zamindar family was friendly towards the villagers. They have established a school during 1916 named as Brindaban Chandra Radha Gobinda School (in short B.C.R.G. School) for their father and uncle. They have left this country during the 1947 separation. Later in 1967, the government established B.C.R.G Degree College on these buildings to commemorate the friendly Zamindar family. Apart from the Zamindar Bari, the premise now has a temple which probably used by the families who lived here. Also there is an open theater available that was used to arrange the local play or drama known as Jatra/Pala (যাত্রা/পালা).

The Rose Garden Palace was built by a Hindu Zamindar Hrikesh Das in the late 19th century. Around that time jalsas (parties) held at Baldha Garden were an important part of the social life of the city's wealthier Hindu residents. The story goes that Hrishikesh, a Zamindar of lower caste background, being insulted on this account by someone at one of the jalsas at Baldha Garden, decided to create his own garden to outshine that of Baldha. Here he staged jalsas of his own. The centerpiece of the garden is an elegant pavilion. However, this was not created as a residence, but rather a setting for entertainment such as musical performances (although subsequent owners did use it as a house). This extravagant lifestyle caused Hrikesh to go bankrupt and he was forced to sell the property.

The palace was bought by Khan Bahadur Kazi Abdur Rashid from Hrikesh in 1936 and renamed the building Rashid Manzil. His eldest son Kazi Mohammed Bashir (Humayun) who carried his name and fame until this generation.

The building, which remains a private property to date, has been renovated by its owners keeping the original character fully maintained. At present it is owned by Qazi Abdur Raqib, Barrister, who has leased it out to the Bengal Motion Picture Studios Limited.

The building has Corinthian columns and has eight apartments including a central hall on its ground floor. The upper floor has a further five apartments including a large dance hall in the middle. In the front yard, there was a fountain originally, the structure of which still remains. There are several classical marble statues in the garden, although the rosegarden that gave the mansion its name does not exist anymore.

The lodge contains on the ground floor eight apartments including a central hall whilst the upper floor has a further five apartments including a large dance hall measuring in the middle. At the back of the building to the east there is a veranda triple-arched entrance porch which leads to a staircase for the upper storey. Originally there was an ornamental fountain in the garden and a number of classical marble statue.

১৯ শতকের শেষের দিকে হিন্দু জমিদার হৃষিকেস দাস রোজ গার্ডেন প্যালেসটি নির্মাণ করেন। সেসময়, বলধা গার্ডেনে অনুষ্ঠিত হওয়া জলসাগুলো শহরের বিত্তবান হিন্দুদের সামাজিক জীবনের গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অংশ ছিল। বলধা গার্ডেনের এমনই এক জলসায় হৃষিকেস দাস নামক এক নিম্নবর্ণের জমিদারকে অপমান করা হয় এবং এর ফলে তিনি নিজেই বাগানবাড়ি স্থাপনের সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহন করেন। হৃষিকেস দাস তাঁর নিজস্ব বাগানবাড়িতে জলসার আয়োজন করতেন। তাঁর বাগানের মূল আকর্ষণ ছিল একটি নয়নাভিরাম সাজঘর। তবে বাগানবাড়িটি শুধুমাত্র বিনোদনের জন্য তৈরি করা হয়েছিল (যদিও পরবর্তী মালিকরা এটি বসবাসের জন্যেও ব্যবহার করতেন)। বিলাসবহুল জীবনযাপনের কারনে হৃষিকেস দাস দেউলিয়া হয়ে যান এবং ফলশ্রুতিতে তাঁকে তাঁর সম্পত্তি বিক্রি করে দিতে হয়েছিল।

১৯৩৬ সালে খান বাহাদুর কাজী আব্দুর রশিদ এই প্রাসাদটি হৃষিকেস দাসের কাছ থেকে কিনে নেন এবং প্রাসাদটির নামকরণ করেন রশিদ মঞ্জিল। তাঁর বড় ছেলে কাজী মোহাম্মদ বশির (হুমায়ুন) আজ অবধি তাঁদের নাম ও খ্যাতিকে ধরে রেখেছেন।

আজ অবধি ব্যাক্তিগত সম্পত্তি এই ভবনটির মূল আবেদন ধরে রেখে ভবনটিকে রক্ষনাবেক্ষন করা হচ্ছে। বর্তমানে এই প্রাসাদটির মালিক ব্যারিস্টার কাজী আব্দুর রকিব প্রাসাদটি বেঙ্গল মোশন পিকচার স্টুডিও লিমিটেডের কাছে ভাড়া দিয়েছেন।

প্রাসাদটির নীচতলায় একটি হলরুম ছাড়াও করিনথিয়ান কলাম এবং আটটি কক্ষ রয়েছে। প্রাসাদের উপর তলার মাঝে নৃত্য করার জন্য হল ছাড়াও আরও পাঁচটি কক্ষ রয়েছে। প্রাসাদের সামনে একটি ঝর্ণা ছিল যেটির চিহ্ন আজও বিদ্যমান। প্রাসাদের বাগানে কয়েকটি মার্বেলের তৈরি মূর্তি রয়েছে যদিও স্থানটির নামকরণ যে গোলাপ বাগানের জন্য করা হয়েছে সেই গোলাপ বাগানটি এখন আর নেই।

প্রাসাদের পিছনে পূর্বদিকে একটি বারান্দা আছে যেখানে প্রবেশের জন্য ধনুকাকৃতির তিনস্তর বিশিষ্ট একটি প্রবেশপথ রয়েছে যেটি দিয়ে উপরে ওঠার সিঁড়িতে যাওয়া যায়।

In different location of Narsingdi district there are a number of Archaeological sites which attract traveler and explorer to visit these places recurrently. Balapur Zamindar House (বালাপুর জমিদার বাড়ি) is one of the old palatial buildings in this district. If someone interested to visit the oldest buried civilization area in Bangladesh named as Wari-Bateshwar, then it would be better to take a glance at Balapur Zamindar House while moving there. It’s situated at Balapur village, Madhabdi Upazila of Narsingdi district.

This Zamindar House was built by local Zamindar named 'Nobin Chandra Saha' in 1906. It is also known as Zamindar Kali Babur Bari (কালী বাবুর বাড়ি). It’s a complex of buildings scattered in a particular zone. Basically, most of the buildings are three storied and some are one or two storied. Dept. of Archaeology in Bangladesh doesn’t announced it as a protected site yet. So like many others old houses in Bangladesh it is on the way of ruining.

No matter how decorative and ornamented this house is, it’s almost abandoned and some people who living in this house are so called ancestor of Zamindari estate at Balapur. Some local people are selling all the floor tiles made by white stone desperately.

But, Still today this beautiful palace standing with its own identity and spreading the essence of colonial palatial architecture in Bengal. If proper steps being taken this structure can be preserved & conserved for the future exhibiotion.

Hussaini Dalan (হোসেনী দালান), some people pronounce as Hosaini Dalan, is another edifice from Dhaka. This is located beside the Nazimuddin Road of Old Dhaka. It is believed as a Shia Shrine, and was built during 17th century. There is a pond in front of the building.

It was built by Syed Murad during the governorship of Shah Shuja to commemorate the martyrdom of Al-Hussain, the grandson of our holly prophet Muhammad. Shah Shuja was a Sunni Muslim, but he had a predilection for Shia and patronized several such institutions.

This building has gone through several renovation and none of its antiquity left for the visitors. People only used to visit this place for its historical value. During the British period it was repaired heavily at 1807 and 1810. Also during the massive earthquake of 1897 caused a severe damage over this edifice. Now a days it just looks like a modern day's building covering with rich tiles with heavy ornate. The Photograph was taken by Fritz Kapp in 1904 with a view of the Imambara Hussaini Dalan in Dacca (now Dhaka), overlooking the tank.

During the first 10 days of Muharram, Shia people used to gather at this place to mourn for Al-Hussain. Though it’s a festival of Shia people, but local Sunni people used to join with them and bemoan with them. This ends at the day of Ashura. More about this building and festival is available at Wikipedia.