Vanga Shahi Masjid

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.

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.

Burir Hat Mosque (বুড়ির হাট মসজিদ) is the interested Islamic structure in Bangladesh. It is so beautiful that you cannot believe without seeing. Burir Hat is the recognized hat (Bazar) in Shariatpur. It stands Bhedarganj Upazila in Shariatpur. It is the birth place of famous artist Davda Chakraborti.

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বাংলাদেশের অন্যতম আকর্ষণীয় ইসলামিক স্থাপনা হলো বুড়িরহাট মসজিদ। মসজিদটি এতটাই সুন্দর যে আপনি নিজ চোখে না দেখলে তা বিশ্বাস করতে পারবেন না। শরিয়তপুরের একটি স্বীকৃত হাট (বাজার) হলো এই বুড়িরহাট। এখানে জন্মেছিলেন বিখ্যাত শিল্পী দাভদা চক্রবর্তী।

[এই স্পটটির জন্য আমাদের আরো বেশি তথ্য প্রয়োজন। আপনার কাছে যদি আরো তথ্য ও ছবি থাকে তাহলে আমদেরকে পাঠিয়ে এই স্পটটিকে আরো বেশি সমৃদ্ধ করতে পারেন]

Dasbari Mosque is located close to Ompur in between Sona mosque and Kotowali Dorja. Generations of local people say it as Dasbari. It is an abandoned place now. According to an inscription in 1497 during the reign of Sultan Shamsuddin Yousuf this mosque was built.

No explanations are found regarding how this mosque was named. It is modeled after the Chamchika mosque in India. Like Dasbari this mosque is built with terracotta bricks. Its circumference is so thick that during the month of Chaitra when it is so hot outside but it remains cool inside. The main dome here looks pretty attractive. North to the mosque there is a Dighi whose volume is 60 bigha.

Mirzapur Jame Mosque is located in Mirzapur about six kilometer far away from Atwari subdistrict on the Atwari-Panchagarh road of Panchagar district.

An inscription wrote in Persian language on the eastern wall of the Masjid provide its reconstruction and reparation by one Shaikh Malik-Uddin in 1252 BS (1831 AD). But nobody don’t know its actual construction date. Recently Department of Archaeology, Bangladesh taking care of this Masjid. There are two ancient graves to the south side of the mosque and north-east side stands an old well. The mosque has three domes, an open courtyard (17meter / 14meter) surrounded by wall. Access gate room of the courtyard (4.12m / 2.12m with 0.60m thick wall) is situated its east middle side. The gate room covered by sloping four-ways roof.

The mosque is rectangular externally length is 13m width is 5.40m with 3 entry doors on the east and 3 mihrabs on the west wall inside. The middle door and the middle mihrab are bigger than the others, which are of same size and height. There is 2 window in the center of the south and north walls. On the roof there are four towers four corners of the masjid. The walls outside are now whitewashed and the terracotta plaques are painted red creating a very colorful exterior.