Darashbari Mosque

Bibi Begni Mosque (বিবি বেগনীর মসজিদ) is located at the western side of the famous Shat Gombuj Mosque of Bagerhat. The department of archaeology has renovated the mosque thoroughly, but couldn't restore the vicinity area that is occupied by the local villagers these days. Bibi Begni Mosque is yet another traditional singled dome mosque from Bangladesh. The original history behind the mosque is unknown. Some people believe that Bibi Begni was one of the wives of Khan Jahan Ali, and some believe that she was a concubine (a mistress) of him. And also, they doubt whether it is really a mosque or a grave. Some scholars represent this type of edifice as a funerary mosque.

This is a single dome mosque having entrances at the three sides other than West. At the Eastern side of the mosque it has three gates, whereas the middle one is larger. And at Northern and Southern side of the wall it has single door each. These days only the door from Northern side remains open to enter inside. The dome atop of the mosque is having a regular shape of other contemporary mosques (of 15th century). The area around the mosque is occupied by the villagers and only a few portion remained around it. It is probably not a good idea to preserve antiquity in such a way. Government should free some spaces from around so that visitors can move around the mosque freely.

বাগেরহাটের বিখ্যাত ষাট গম্বুজ মসজিদের পশ্চিম দিকে বিবি বেগনীর মসজিদটি অবস্থিত। প্রত্নতত্ত্ব অধিদফতর মসজিদটির ব্যাপক মেরামতের কাজ করলেও স্থানীয়দের দখল করা মসজিদের এলাকা উদ্ধার করতে পারেনি। তারপরও বিবি বেগনীর মসজিদ বাংলাদেশের ঐতিহ্যবাহী একটি একগম্বুজ বিশিষ্ট মসজিদ। মসজিদের প্রকৃত ইতিহাস জানা না গেলেও স্থানীয়রা মনে করেন বিবি বেগনী ছিলেন খান জাহান আলীর একজন স্ত্রী আবার অনেকে মনে করেন তিনি ছিলেন খান জাহান আলীর একজন দাসী। এছাড়া এটি প্রকৃতপক্ষে একটি মসজিদ নাকি কবর এ ব্যাপারেও সন্দেহ রয়েছে। কোন কোন ইতিহাসবিদ এ জাতীয় স্থাপনাকে মাজার ভিত্তিক মসজিদ হিসেবে গণ্য করে থাকে।

একগম্বুজ বিশিষ্ট এই মসজিদের পশ্চিম দিক ব্যাতিত অন্য তিন দিকেই প্রবেশের ফটক রয়েছে। মসজিদের পূর্বদিকের তিনটি ফটকের মধ্যে মাঝেরটি বড়। এছাড়া এই মসজিদে উত্তর এবং দক্ষিন দিকের দেয়ালে একটি করে ফটক রয়েছে। তবে আজকাল শুধুমাত্র মসজিদের উত্তর দিকের ফটকটি মসজিদে প্রবেশের জন্য উন্মুক্ত রাখা হয়। বিবি বেগনীর মসজিদের গম্বুজটির আকার সমসাময়িক (১৫শ শতকের) অন্যান্য মসজিদের গম্বুজের মতই। মসজিদের আশেপাশের বেশীরভাগ এলাকাই গ্রামবাসীরা দখল করে নিয়েছে আর এভাবে মসজিদের প্রাচীনতা ধরে রাখা কঠিন। সরকারের উচিত মসজিদের আশেপাশের জায়গা দখলমুক্ত করা যাতে করে পর্যটকরা মসজিদের আশেপাশে ঘুরে বেড়াতে পারে।

Baparipara Shahi Mosque is located at 1 km distance from Rajarhat Upazila of Kurigram district. The Mosque length is 32 feet and width is 10 feet. It is surrounded by 3 ft high wall. There are 3 door, 1 decorated gate, 2 tower and 4 high tower situated on the four corner of the Mosque. On the center of the roof, there are three big domes. There are no inscription found about the Mosque. From its architectural sign, you can guess Baparipara Shahi Mosque is around 200 year old.

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Khwaja Shahbaz, the founder of the mosque was a prominent merchant of Dhaka. In fact, prominent is not the paragon for him. People used to call him as "Merchant of Prince". According to the history of the mosque, it was built at 1679 AD in the surrounding of the Ramna Park.

The mosque has three large Domes, and the architecture is almost similar to the structures at the era of Mughal (Shaista Khan). The measurement of the mosque is exactly 20.73 m by 7.92m. It is comprises with three front doors, where the middle one is a bit larger compare if you compare with other two.

As a commemoration, the mosque premise has a tomb of the founder of the mosque. The tomb is decorated with only a single dome. The southern part of the tomb has a nicely shaped veranda with a curvy roof. Inside the tomb, there is something which is covered with red cloth.

Each corner of the mosque or the tomb has a firmly built pillar, which are lovely to examine. The baroque style of the pillar will certainly impress you. Neither the mosque nor the tomb has any window. That's why when you'll look inside the tomb or mosque, you'll find it a bit darker, no matter how sunny the day is. Finally it is strictly forbidden for the women for "Jumma Prayer" at Friday. Using a notice board at the facade of the mosque, it’s proclaimed that they have no facilities for women for Jumma Prayer.

In every single part of Bangladesh there are some Archaeological & Historical remains, which has enriched our cultural history. Lack of awareness and proper knowledge in common people results in gradual ruining of many Historical & Archaeological sites in our country.

One of the great example of deteriorations of an Archaeological site in Narsingdi district is ‘Single domed Mosque and Tomb of Shah Mansur’ located at Kumradi, Shibpur upazila.

It was built in eighteenth century by a Muslim saint named Shah Mansur. In course of time, the existence of the mosque is totally replaced by a new built Madrasa. But, still now the remaining of ‘Tomb of Shan Mansur’ is existing, although it is hard to assume how the original structure was.

Architectural Property and Layout:

Tomb of Shah Mansur, A massive structure which is architecturally rich and decorated with different kinds of design. It is in rectangular shape and built in very unique way. In the western wall of this building there are five arch shaped entrance, among them middle one is open and decorated with multi foil design. Others are Closed arch & also contains the same design like the opened one. The southern side of the tomb is severely disturbed, broken and ruined. Main entrance of the tomb is totally vanished, but still we can observe some three archways very close to the grave of Shah Mansur. It seems like there are two grave inside the building. We assume that other grave might be Shah Mansur’s wife.

There is another unique structure situated in the southern side of the tomb. It is just a square shaped Minar containing open space inside of it, in the roof top it contains a bulbous shaped dome. It has four arch shaped ways in four brick wall.

In the most eastern part of this tomb there is a large pond. Which is probably same years old as the tomb is.

Myth related to this Structure:

There are several myths interrelated with this feature. People say that Shah Mansur used to pet a tiger inside of square shaped structure which is situated in the eastern side of the tomb. Although, It’s a myth but it contains some evidences which might prove it true. Inside of this square shaped structure there are two iron’s ring attached with brick wall.

And it is also said, Once there were some big fishes in the pond. Local people believe that, those fish were actually cursed human being and for this reason they buried those death fish in a grave yard near to Pond.

Present Condition and Immediate Conservation Issue:

Present condition of the features situated in this complex is in very sensitive condition. One domed Mosque built by Shah Mansur is vanished and a new Madrasa replacing it. The tomb of Shah Mansur is near to destruction. The whole brick building contains several banyan tree and different species of trees.
The unique square shaped Minar is also near to ruin. Beside this structure there is bathroom built very recently for Madrasa students.

Immediate steps should be taken to conserve and preserve these features from its deterioration.