Array
(
[0] => Array
(
[name] => Belabo Bazar Mosque
[post_id] => 7930
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/belabo-bazar-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/241559351-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Belabo Bazar Mosque,a grand mosque constructed with Tk 35 million, was inaugurated on 8th of November 2008. At least 12,000 people can say their prayers at a time at the mosque of 200 feet length and 125 feet width. Renowned industrialist of Narsingdi district Abdul Kadir Mollah carried the whole construction cost of the mosque.
The first founder and land owner of the Moque named 'Alhajj Mahmud Ali Bhuiyan' donated his land for building this Mosque. Who is known as 'Mamdi Bepari'. Later Abdul Kadir Mollah announced his grand donation on a public place in Belabo to build this Mosque as a Mega Structure. Local people feels proud to be the inhabitants of this Upazila. Many people from different direction come to visit this Mosque everyday.
)
[1] => Array
(
[name] => Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque
[post_id] => 7286
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/khan-mohammad-mridha-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Khan-Mohammad-Mridha-Mosque1-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque is another archaic mosque from our Dhaka city. Unlike other mosques, this one has plenty of spaces around it, and not consumed by the proximity buildings.
The mosque was built over a very high vault like platform. Using the stair, anyone can go to the upper store and able to have the beauty of the antiquity. According to the inscription of the central doorway of the mosque, it was built during 1704–05 AD by someone named Khan Muhammad Mridha, and the mosque was named after him.
The mosque has three domes at the top of it and has four pillars at the four corners with traditional ornate. If you visit the mosque, you may find that the door is closed. It usually opens at the time of the prayer.
At the eastern side of the mosque, there is a tomb exists, but no epigraph over the tomb, so it is hard to find anything further about this. Also the there is a garden available at eastern side having various kind of seasonal flowers.
There are plenty of spaces around the mosque. It will allow you to observe the mosque without any obstacle unlike any other mosques from Dhaka City. Having roads at west and north of the mosque kept it detached from other buildings.
)
[2] => Array
(
[name] => Kismat-Maria Mosque
[post_id] => 9282
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/kismat-maria-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/kismat-maria-mosque-durgapur-rajshahi-12-300x225.jpg
[post_content] =>
Kismat-Maria Mosque (কিসমত-মারিয়া মসজিদ) is the academic name, where local people knows this as Durgapur mosque (দুর্গাপুর মসজিদ). The mosque is located at the Maria (মারিয়া) village, adjacent to village Kismat (কিসমত), that's why it is called Kismat-Maria Masjid.
It is totally unknown about any sort of historical information. No inscription available at the doorway or anywhere. Even the government doesn't have any document or info regarding this. To add insult to the injury, the local people cannot remember anything about this mosque either. It’s a total mystery.
It is certain that the mosque was built several hundred years back. It is having three domes at the top. Four ornate pillars at the four sides of the mosque. Eastern side of the mosque is having three entrances. The mosque is built over a 2-3 feet of high base. The domes of the mosque is similar to the Kartalab Khan's Mosque at Old Dhaka.
The mosque has a small house type of building at the southern side. This is another great archaeological object from our Bangladesh.
)
[3] => Array
(
[name] => Chowk Bazar Shahi Mosque
[post_id] => 9953
[post_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/places/chowk-bazar-shahi-mosque/
[thumb_link] => http://offroadbangladesh.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/P_20150610_1310241-169x300.jpg
[post_content] =>
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.
)
)