Kantaji Temple Dinajpur

Kantaji Temple Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Kantaji Temple, also known as the kantanagar temple, is located in the graceful heart of gorgeous Country side of Dinajpur. This is a stunning block of religious artwork, and is surely one of the most impressive Hindu monuments in Bangladesh.

Built in 1704-1752 A.D. by pran Nath, a renowned maharaja from Dinajpur, and his adopted son Ram Nath, it is the country's finest example of brick and terracotta style. It's most remarkable feature, typical of late Mughal-era temples, is it's superb surface decoration, with infinite panels of sculpted terracotta plaques. 

This 15-sq-meter, three-story edifice was originally crowned with nine ornamental two-story towers,   which collapsed during the great earthquake of 1897 and were never replaced . The temple is built on a high platform . This is Naver ratna temple.

The entire outer surface of the temple is exquisitely established with terracotta plaques which depict flora and fauna, geometric motifs, mythological scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and the contemporary social scenes and favorite pastime. The idol of kantaji is kept in the garvagriha  of the temple in it's ground floor.

The department of Archaeology has been performing the necessary conservation and restoration works of kantaji temple since was declared a protected monument by the Government in 1960.

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Mahasthangarh Bogra

Bogra Mohasthangarh

The word 'Mahasthan' means a place that has excellent sanctity and 'garh' means fort. The extensive ruins of Mahasthangarh presents a glorious past of about two thousand and five hundred years of pundranagar, the  capital city of ancient pundra Vardhan Bhukti. The site spreading along the westem bank of korotoa, is situated abut 13km north of Bogra town.

The whole area is rich in Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim sites. The Buddhists were here uni-ll at least the 11th century. Their most glorious period was the 8th to the 11th centuries, when the Buddhist pals emperors of North-Bengal ruled. It is from this period that most of visible remains belong. The citadel was probably first constructed under the Mauryan empire in the 3rd century B.C. It fell into disuse around the time of Mughal invasions. Most of the visible brickwork dates from the 8th century, apart from that added during restoration. outside the citadel, there is a remaining of a 6th-century Govinda Bhita Hindu Temple, which looks like a broken-down step pyramid.


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Dhakeshwari Temple Bangladesh

Bangladesh Dhakeshwari Temple

Dhakeshwari Temple is located in old Dhaka, about 1km north of Lalbagh Fort, up a short alley off Dhakeshwari road. It is the city's main Hindu Temple. Popular legend connects the name of one king, Ballalsena, as it's builder, but it is not certain that he is identical with the 12th century Sena king of that name . The style of architecture of the temple cannot be assigned to that period. Further more, sand and lime, the mortar used in the building, came to be used in Bengal after Muslim Conquest.

On the other hand, the architectural and structural features of the temple indicate it's builder to be someone who had very little in fluency on the culture of Bengal.

Thus it appears that the origin of the Dhakeshwari Temple is shrouded in mystery . In the beginning of the 20th century Bradley Birt wrote that the  temple is more then 200 years old and a Hindu agent of the east India company built it. since importance. The original 800- years old Statue was destroyed during the 1971 war of Independence by the invading Pakistani army. The temple complex has undergone repairs, renovation and rebuilding in it's long years of existence and it's present condition does not clearly show any of it's  original architectural characteristics. 

  

There are four small temples of same size and Shape on the northeaster comer of the tank, which stand one after another from east to west. Each of them is built on a steps, and has a Shiva lings inside. To the north of the north-Mandie  stands the main temple facing south. It's a three-roomed Structure with a veranda in front having beautiful wooden doors with curving of different motifs, both sculptural and floral. The temple is open everyday, and people from all religion can enter inside.

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Lalbagh Fort Bangladesh

Lalbagh  Fort In Bangladesh

Lalbag Fort is the most popular and renowned fort and a great signature of art by Moghl Emperor in Bangladesh. It is also known as Fort Aurangadeb. It is situated in lalbagh of old Dhaka. Thats why names so. It is situated by the bank of the rever Buriganga in a rich red soil. It was an incomplete structure by a Mughal Emperor named prince Muhammad  Azam (Third son of Aurangazeb). He started the work of the fort in 1678 during his vice-royality in Bangladesh (Previous Bangla). He stayed in Bengal for 15 months. It remained incomplete when he was Called by father Aurangazeb. 

Shaista khan was the new Subedar of Dhaka in that time . and he did not Complete the fort. In 1684, the daughter of Shaista Khan named Iran Dukht (Pari Bibi) died there after her death, he started to think the fort as ominous, and left the Structure incomplete . Among the 3 major parts of Lalbagh Fort one is the tomb of Pari Bibi . After Shaista Khan left Dhaka, it lost its popularly. The main cause was that the capital was replaced from Dhaka to Murshidabad. After the end of royal Mughal period, the fort became abandoned. In 1844, the area achieved it's name as Lalbagh replacing Aurangabad, So the fort as Lalbagh Fort.

There are 3 getaways to enter the fort. The Southern gateway is the most important and one can see it frim Buriganga. It has a three-storied structure. But the middle Structure is covered by Minaret. That is why it looks like a 2 storied structure. In the total area of Lalbagh Font there are also Royel garden and drainage System. After a cartain time Mughal emperor Aurangazeb donated the fort to Shaista Khan in memory of his daughter Pari Bibi. The Success or of Shaista Khan got revenue after his death by leasing the fort to the government. After 1853 the cantonment was replaced in Lalbagh Fort from purana paltan. Currently, the Archaeological department of Bangladesh is maintaining this Historical place. Almost 3 million people visit this place every year.

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Lalbagh Fort :
$ prices:
admission Tk 10
Opening hours :
10 am - 5 pm Mon-Sat, 2.30-5.30 pm Fri Nov-Mar,
10-30 am  - 5.30 pm Mon-Sat , 3-6 pm Fri Apr -Oct,
Closed Holidays
Address : Lalbagh , Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Burials :Peri Bibi
 

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban

Bangladesh Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban

The constituent assembly of Bangladesh and the first parliament  held their sitting in the building that now houses  the prim minister's office and which is often referred as the old Sangshad Bhaban (old parliament house)The second parliament also held most of its sitting in the building, the last sitting being on 10 july 1981. It was during the tenure of the Second parliament that the present parliament building, or Sangshad Bhaban, located at Sher-e Bangla Nagar, became functional. It eight, and incidentally the last Session, Commenced on 15 February 1982 in the new building.

 The legislative enclave at Sher-e-Bangle Nagar is among the largest legislative Complexes in the world and is bound by Rokeya Sarani to the east, Mirpur Road to the South. It's total area is approximately 200 acres.

The design of the parliament building, made by the famous architect professor Louis I.Khan, was evolved from the basic human requirement of protection from the glare and fury of nature. The entire Complex has a floor area of 8,23,00 sq, ft in the main building, 2,23,000 sq, ft in the South plaza and 65,000 sq, ft in the presidential plaza. The total Seating capacity in the parliament Chamber is 354 plus the podium and two V.I.P galleries. The Chamber has a maximum height of 117' with a parabolic Shell roof at it's top.

The building is constructed  entirely masonry . white marble lines the interior walls of the complex. The miracle of this post-modernistic masterpiece is that it was built with the limited resources that existed in Bangladesh during the tumultuous years of it's creation. The Construction began in 1961 with an estimated cost of $15 million. The complex, with all services and facilities , was completed 21 years later in 1982 with a revised cost of $32 million . During this time , Bangladesh endured a bitter civlwan  with  Pakistan that ultimately granted independence to the country. The building resides on 208 acres and is Surrounded by massive pools and endless grass lawns.

Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban
Address : Mohammadpur , Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Opened : 1982
Architectural styles : Brutalist architecture, Modern architecture.
Architects : Louis Khan,

Bangladesh Shaheed Minar

The Man Behind The Shaheed Minar

There is a tragic history behind the Central Minar.In 1948 Mohammad Ali Zinnah of West Pakistan declared in a conference in Dhaka, "Urdu and Urdu shall be the state language of Pakistan." This was a plot and attack on our culture and language.Then students of our counter began a movement against this declaration.They brought out procession demanding of declare Bengali as the state language of Pakistan.The government of Pakistan was strict on its decision and declared curfew. It was 21st February, 1952. Breaking the 144 section,the students took procession.Near Dhaka Medical College Hospital police fired upon the procession and Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Jabber and some other students died on the spot. There after, central Shaheed Minar was built to make the memory of the martyrs of the martyrs immortal. Hamidur Rahman was the man who gave shape to the concept and design of the Shaheed Minar, by combining all the aspirations of Bengali identity and nationalism. He was the first art student of  Bangladesh who in the 1950s went to Europe and studied at "Ecole de Beaux Art" in Paris. He was the pioneer of the new painting movement of the then Pakistan.