লালবাগ কেল্লা

Idrakpur Fort situated at Munshiganj proper, now on the west bank of the canal running through the town, and on the eastern vicinity of Deobhog village. This water fort was originally built at a strategic point on the junction of the river Ichhamati (now dried up) and the Meghna. The location of the fort had earlier been named as Idrakpur. The development of the township in the locality with the name Munshiganj is a later innovation. Still there is a village named Idrakpur in the suburb of the town. The surroundings of the fort are now filled with earth, and in some places the silt has risen up to the level of the parapet.

The erection of the fort was intended to check the advance of the Magh and Portuguese pirates proceeding towards the Mughal capital city of Dhaka. It was probably built by the Mughal subadar Mir Jumla in about 1660 A.D.
This brick built fort, quadrangular in size, runs from north to south measuring 86.87 meter in length and 59.60 meter in breadth. It consists of two main parts: i) the wider open area surrounded by curtain walls crowned by machicolated merlons, with engaged rounded corner bastions also crowned by merlons and pierced by musketry, and ii) the smaller area containing a round drum of huge dimension surrounded by another series of similar curtain walls. An approach to the drum is provided from the bigger court.

The most striking feature of the fort is the existence of an elevated rounded platform of 32.5 diameter and 9.14 meter high on the eastern part of the fort, which can be reached by a staircase. Another striking feature of the fort is the existence of a staircase leading to an underground room at the foot of the drum. Tradition goes that the staircase is a part of the provision for an underground tunnel meant for emergency exit of its occupants to some safe destination. But virtually the staircase simply leads to a secret underground chamber which was the magazine or storehouse for arms and explosives.

The main entrance gate of the fort is on the north with a high rectangular bastion crowned by machicolated merlons which served as a guard room.

Special features being discovered by recent renovation work:

12th of May 2015, A typical day for the workers who were employed for the renovation work of this Mughal fort. As the Dept. of Archaeology decided to make a museum & a cultural center inside the fort earlier.For the last 300 years there have been several renovations conducted there. But, this time something very interesting discovered while the workers were removing floor's plaster. All on a sudden they observed there have been a significant numbers of pitchers were placed in row & Column beneath the outer surface of floor. Initially, It's presumed that these pitchers is nearly 350 years old as this fort was built in 1660 AD.

Some of the researchers from Dept. of Archaeology interpreted that these vessels were used for keeping cool inside of the fort and some are opposing this interpretation. They said further investigation needs to be conducted to find out the reason of using these vessel. These kind of feature has been discovered very first time in Bangladesh. It's a unique Medieval architectural feature. After finding these pitcher, Dept. of Archaeology decided to hold on the renovation work as it might destroy very important spatial context.

Bhitargarh Fort was formed a part of the chain of early medieval mud-forts erected mostly by the Muslim rulers at different times to defend their territory against the incursion of their northern Hindu neighbors. The territory east of the Karatoya River was for some time a part of the Ahom kingdom. In the 15th century, this area was included in the Tibeto-Barman Khen dynasty's territory and served as a sort of buffer state between Assam and the Muslim Kingdom of Bengal.

"The existence of fifteen garhs (fortifications) has hitherto been traced of which the most noted are Bhitar Garh, Hosain Garh, Mir Garh, Rajan Garh and Deven Garh. Panchagram is named after these five garhs. Amongst these fortification Bhitargarh is still vigilant archeological site. Total Garh is bounded by both manmade and natural canal and fort like wall."-Banglapedia.

Bhitargarh fort city, established in the sixth or seventh century, had a sovereign administration. Built on important trade routes, the fort city had trade links with Tibet, Bhutan, and China as well as with West Bengal, Bihar, Sikkim and Punhdrabardhan of India.

The entire fort city is bordered by two rectangular wall- inner and outer wall or fortifications. There are two villages inside the wall- Bhitargarh and Maharajar Hat, with village market (Bhitargarh bazar). Most interesting feature is the Maharajar Dighi is a large pond, the most attractive place inside the fortification. It is really beautiful during rain. Probably the Maharaja (king) of Bhitargarh, dug the canal for supplying sweet water inside the fort. The pond might be connected by drainage network.

The fortification is now the most important archeological site of the country. The place comes to spot light after a recent excavation program, which has been uncovered some 200 archeological site inside the fort city.

Jungle-bari (জঙ্গলবাড়ী) is mainly a fort that is located at the Jungle-bari (জঙ্গলবাড়ী) of Karimganj Upazila (করিমগঞ্জ উপজেলা) of Kishoreganj (কিশোরগঞ্জ). It was the second capital of Isha Khan (ইশা খাঁ). He captured the fort from Lokkhon Shing Hajara (লক্ষন সিং হাজারা) during the battle of Egaro Shindur (এগারো সিন্দুর) with Man Singh (মান সিংহ).

This is known as Jungle-bari Durgo (জঙ্গলবাড়ী দুর্গ), Isha Khar Bari (ইশা খাঁর বাড়ী), etc. to the local people. There is a dilapidated building is still available there. A portion of that building is still being used by the decedents from Isha Kha (ইশা খাঁ).

An archaic mosque is available just beside the Jungle-bari (জঙ্গলবাড়ী) fort. It’s a small rectangular shaped mosque having three domes at the top and four minarets at the four corners. A large pond is available at the eastern side of the mosque.

Most of the Zamindar Bari (জমিদার বাড়ী) from Bangladesh are in a very poor condition. That time the owners were facing difficulties for religious upheaval and other adverse situations, thus they have sensed an urgency to leave this country for their own safety. But fortunately, here they are still living with pride, may be they were too much friendly with the peasants.

Munsing Durg (মানসিংহের দুর্গ) is the historical place in Bangladesh. The structure now-a-days is broken part by part. A historical war was happened here in the last of 16th century which is written in Bangladesh History. Fatezongpur is the historical place in Naria where the Munsing Durg is standing as the symbol of Historical War. Sreenagar was the old name of Fatezongpur. Once Sreenagar was administrated by the monarch of Chand Roy & Kedar Roy. Raja Chad Roy & Kedar Roy was defeated in Sreenagar by Mughal Senapoti Munsing & Raja Chad Roy & Kedar Roy had died. So for wining with Chad Roy & Kedar Roy this name (শ্রীনগর) was changed as Fatezongpur. The meaning of ‘Fate’is (in Bangla) ‘Win’ (জয়).

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