a character ofDhaka.It part ofthearchitectural was areanintegral the cityofbuildings mosques. Spiritual ABSTRACT [email protected] Technology, Bangladesh Faculty ofArchitectureandPlanning,AhsanullahUniversityScience Jinia Sharmeen Case ofSatMasjidRoadDhaka Mughal Monuments Sustaining theIdentityofSpiritual and passingitintacttofuture generationsisan building of theheritage the architecturalelements the spiritualrootthroughproper conservationof The importance of understanding and preserving of Dhaka,Bangladesh. significance and dominance of religion in the context in termsofitshistorical in othercitiesoftheworld of Mughal’s sacred buildings is more significant than throughout thehistoryofcity. The preservation fabric andurbanmorphology authority onthesocial one in Bangladesh. Spiritual buildings exercised The religion of Islam is undoubtedly the most popular INTRODUCTION Keywords: spirituality,Mughal the restorationofredeemedspirituality. at Sat Road inDhakato buildings Masjid protect spiritual them Mughal from analyze decay and to ensure with identity.with thegrowthofUrbanization. are struggling Now theiridentities This studyattemptsto spirituality combining for significant are monuments religious Mughal architecture. Islamic of history the to fl B amboyant city during the Mughal era. The architecture of Mughal Dhaka made profound contributions profound made Dhaka Mughal of architecture The era. Mughal the during city amboyant proportionately dense in relation to thecity’sdense in relation proportionately and thecapital. population The capital,Dhaka,iscalled are mosques of Numbers world. the of population Muslim largest fourth the to home is angladesh

architecture, identity,history Sustaining theIdentityofSpiritualMughalMonuments:CaseSatMasjidRoadDhaka the city. impact on architecture whichhasastrong spiritual is thetestimonytomanyofMughal’sroad legendry this taken asacasestudybecause has been Road the famousSatMasjid ofresearch For thispurpose manner. (Zahiruddin,1990,p.97). down or redeveloped in a most unsympathetic arebeingpulled entire sectionsof an olderheritage significance is absent. In the name of development, of itsspiritual understanding a proper structure with receives the lowest priority. Expertise to conserve the repairing and protecting the architectural heritage for required funds Budgetary issue. neglected universally accepted matter, but in reality it is a

Nakhara 13 Nakhara 14 of Dhaka, the Sat Gumbad (Seven Domed) Mosque of Dhaka,theSatGumbad(Seven Domed)Mosque of historically important spiritual MughalMonuments conditions present the analyze to is phase first The major phases. of thispaper. into two has beendivided This paper detailed visualexaminationcarriedoutbytheauthor Mughal religious monuments of Dhaka through a decay andspiritual deterioration ofthelegendry The aim of the paper is to identify the causes of Aims andObjectivesoftheProject: recover it’s spiritualaristocracy. fabric to settlements intheexisting of theMughal Dhaka through clear and sustainable integration of holybuildings oftheMughal the historicquality day byday.diminishing This studyaimstopromote the vibrancyofmostsacredplaceshistoryare their sacredquality.a waythattheyarelosing Thus urbanization all spiritual buildings are suppressed in of flow the With everywhere. evident are traditions populated area and the resultant decay of old of urbanizationhasturnedDhakaintoadensely been developingoutwards. The recent pattern along the riverfront. However, since 1947 it had developed originally of Bangladesh, Dhaka, capital elements inthetransformingfabric. The urbanityof insignificant into turning gradually are structures of theMughalsettlements. As aresult,Mughal a rapid transformation to the historical fabric and moderntransportationhavebroughtabout patterns, thegrowingdensityofnewsettlements, Uncontrolled urbanization,changesinlanduse of IslaminDhakaaswellBangladesh. buildings aremajorendorsements of the longhistory as prayerspaces for yearlyfestivals. All theseholy are Mosques as regular prayer spaces andEid Gahs their realm.Mostoftheimportantexamples during Mughal religious monuments were constructed many as aresult and an integralpartofOldDhaka is abundantlyclear. The Mughalsettlementsare faces ofhistory,of Islam dominance thereligious 1757. is atestimonytothedifferentDhaka Although the 14th century. It then came under British control in 17th century it wasunderthe sultanates starting from and becameanurbancommercialcentreinthe capitalofBengal astheMughal rose toprominence Dhaka, has a fairly long history of evolution. Before it Project Rationale: Jinia Sharmeen The methodology is primarilybasedonanempirical The methodology Methodology oftheStudy: and recommendations. in preparingabaselineof data forfurtherresearch structures. Therefore, ithaspurelyanacademictask nor hastheresourcestoconserveselected The studyneitherhasthepowertoenactlegislation, their spirituality. revitalize to Monuments Mughal sacred significant of those restoration and preservation conservation, proper for justification find to is phase second The Road ascasestudies. and the Dhanmondi Eidgah ground in Sat Masjid the Mughalbuildings. against themonumentalityas wellasspiritualityof goes action their and benefits financial for bindings Some peopletake advantage of lack of legal code ofrulestopreservespirituality ofbuildings. specific no is There exception. no is study present There areseldomanystudies without problems. The Problems ofStudy: this particularMosqueandground. work of project or conservation redevelopment of awareness inpeoplewhoareinvolvedthiskind based onthefindingsinordertogeneratean Step 04:recommendationspropose Finally Mughal Monuments. intentions of people towards those specific Historical questionnaire surveytofindouttheviewsand Step 03: Generated aphotographic survey and state oftheoldstructures. and the of thesite,newdevelopments, conditions Step 02: Conducted a field survey to observe existing them. spiritual structures andthe needto properly conserve of theMughal importance historical and the spiritual forunderstanding ofliterature review a Made 01: Step following sequentialstepswereused:. documentation. To conducttheresearch upon qualitative data through observation and survey andthustheresearchmethoddepends and other structures. This is a blend of Islamic, a uniquearchitectural character intheir buildings to the Mughalarchitecturalprinciples.has bridges, andtombs were builtin Bengal according reign. It wasthen that many mosques, palaces, forts, of Bengal during the Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s the capital became In 1610Dhaka in Bangladesh. architecture This researchonlyfocusesonMughal and spirituality. increased withdifferent phasesofpreachingreligion History depictsthatnumberofspiritualbuildings to eachother.History andspiritualityarereciprocal like mosquesandeidgahs. prayerspaces includes period that Mughal during Prominent Mughalmonumentsandarchitecturebuilt century andbecame the capital in the 17th century. Emperor inthe16th Dhaka cameundertheMughal of shrinesandmosqueswerebuiltinthatperiod. god throughloveratherthanprayers.Many with union spiritual a attain to was Sufi the of aim was the popular term coined inthat period and the “Sufism” practice. stream main the from direction adifferent towards slightly moved ofIslam spirituality in the14thcenturythe the Sultanateperiod During complexes forspiritualpracticesinSylhet. of different saintsare partoffamousarchitectureand has beenthecenterofspiritualitysincethen.Shrines Delhi, IndiatoSylhetin1303preachIslam. most famous saints was ShahJalalwhocamefrom towards Islamstarted inthe 13thcentury .Oneofthe The true and large scale conversion of people dynasty andBuddhistrulers. gained inthespiritualpopularitybecauseofPala Buddhism centuries 12th the to 8th the During areas. area due to their tradingcontact with thecoastal of the Turks, Islam inthe traders introduced Arabian from Iraqtospreadthereligion.Beforeconquest by Sufi Syed Shahnasiruddin, who came all the way The Journey of Islam started in thelandof Bengal History ofIslaminBangladesh: STUDY AREA GENERAL DESCRIPTIONOF architecture has its origin in its religion, Islam. in itsreligion, has itsorigin architecture The personality andotherartistic inclinations.Mughal techniques and wealth but also their love of poetry, Mughal architecture reflect not only their architectural Persian andIndianarchitecture. The buildingsof Sustaining theIdentityofSpiritualMughalMonuments:CaseSatMasjidRoadDhaka was also used although this was usually covered this wasusually was alsousedalthough the construction of domes andarchesbakedbrick For for themajority ofwalls. was used construction masonry usedforfacades,courserubblestone surrounding gardens. In addition to the fine-cut stone ones and slightly pointedinsteadofhemispherical are which ornaments,domes surfaces, geometric white marble pure inlays, inlaterperiods marble or bilateralsymmetry, redsandstonewithwhite aperfectornearradial architecture include architecture. The characteristic features of Mughal existence of various influences of Persian and Hindu characteristics ofMughalarchitectureisthe According to the scholars of Islam the main mosques, tombs,gardens. durbars, forts, the in reflected are death, and concepts that areapparent inIslam, power, pleasure of spacesareimportant.In termsofdecoration spiritual space.Onlybasicnorms and requirements of Allah inanyof the physical featureswithinthe there is no metaphoricandspiritualrepresentation believethat It isamatter of debate andmost scholar’s (Islam, 2014). features borrowedfromthePersianarchitecture centre point arch, and the use of domes are the four- the four, into divided garden or charbagh the tile work,theiwanasacentralfeatureinmosques, Extensiveuseof with ahoodrestingoncolumns. jarokhas- a projecting balcony supported on corbels domed kioskrestingonpillars,andthechajjas a - chhatris the include; characteristics Mughal Other constructions that became a part of the been incorporatedintotheMughalarchitecture. features thathave are sometypical Hindu columns rather thanrichlyornamentedcarvedpiersand corbels archesmadeoutof construction, shallow extends fromthemainstructure. The typedstone entrance main The entrance. any-other than larger and arowofhugeentrances. is The mainentrance these arenas. have The buildingsa central dome mammoth wealthin pursuit andtherulerssupplied artistic of flourishing the for structure or framework and indentures. The empire provided a protected Muslim architecture. The buildings have domes and extentwereincorporatedbytheMughalsor modified and elements of spaciousness, immensity the Indo-Islamic architecture. Hindu architecture was can alsobetermedas that progressed architecture The Mughal Architecture ortheMuslimstyleof tombs andpalaces and also used for relaxation. the settingfor provided which architecture Mughal of aspects most important the of one is gardens with plasterorfacingstones. The designofthe

Nakhara 15 Nakhara 16 north, Jafarabad-Mirpur in the wes the in Jafarabad-Mirpur north, in thesouth, to theBuriganga extended Tongiin the 79) andWilliamHedges(1686), appearstohave (1663), Tavernier (1666), Thomas Bowrey (1669- like SebastianManrique(1640), NicolaiManucci the accountsrecordedbysomeforeigntravelers of the Mughal cityofDhakawhich,according to During this period there was all- round development a provincialcapitalfor the nextonehundredyears. at Rajmahal, Dhaka continued to retain the status of 1659 whenSubahdarShahShuja’s residence was From with ashortbreakfrom then onwards, 1639 to it Jahangirnagar.to Dhaka andrenamed Rajmahal transferred thecapitalofMughalBengalfrom of Subahdar Islam Khan (1608-1613), who in 1610 attheinstance 1627) Dhakarosetoprominence (1605- Jahangir successor and son his of time the 1605) Dhakaformedonlyafrontieroutpost.During 1576 and in the subsequent years of his rule (1583- in Bengal conquered (1556-1605) Akbar Emperor with socialandculturalinterpretation. in architecturechanges the expressionof religion context andhow identity oftheparticular spiritual A historicalstudyisrequiredtounderstandthe Historical BackgroundofDhaka: standard. and symbol as taken and region ofthe spaces features actuallyportraystheimageofspiritual contextual andculturalinterpretation. All ofthese satisfy primarilythenormsofIslamalongwith features of Mughal architecture are maintained to with many distinct forms of architecture. Thus characteristics, whichidentifiesituniversally fine combination of so many local and foreign to Islam. The wholeMughalarchitecture isa reflects the spiritual belief ofa simplelife according buildings Mughal of features the in Simplicity metaphysical significanceofIslaminarchitecture. have nevertheless tried to explorethe symbolicand As there is no direct, written influence, scholars did notvaryfromthisnorm. features ofmosques adopted into the architectural style. The Mughal basic Arabic, Persianor Turkishwas easily origins from modification cultural cases most In prohibited. ofanyanimaliscompletely that therepresentation is patterns geometric and decorations floral of use encouraged. is simplicity the behind reason The Jinia Sharmeen t and Postogola way closelyassociatedwiththeroyalfamily. Many onwards. or insome of royalblood They wereeither regular successionto rule thecountry from this time in were appointed Subahdars, astheywerecalled, Mughal architecture in Bengal. The Governors or Dhaka thereusheredinanewerathe history of to fromRajmahal capital of shifting the With stopped. (MughalMosquesofDhaka) not completely the citywere activities in the building of thecitydoesnotappearto have takenplace,but century. furtherextension period this niabat During Murshidabad nawabs until the middle of the 19th the of behalf on nazims naib- successive the by and henceforth continued to have been ruled Dhaka thereforelostthestatusasacapitaltown capital of Bengal by Subahdar MurshidQuliKhan. in the east. In 1717 Mur recommendat spiritual monumentswillhelp toinproposing era’s oftheMughal studies Dhaka.Historical in in urbandevelopment as amilestone is regarded era Mughal The life. people’s influence they how to identifytheimpactofmosquesonDhakaand as anessential part of Dhaka city. It is very important As inanyother Islamic cities, mosques areregarded Mosques ofDhaka) successive departmentofarchaeology. (Mughal with subsequent restorations and repairs by the look. OthersareinfairlygoodStateofpreservation or repaired to the extent of them giving a modern still survive,someofwhicharenoweitherinruins majority of the structures in Mughal Dhaka. Butmany of piracy of a large man causedthedisappearance the pitilessforcesofnatureandthoughtless with combined materials short-lived These mortar. were builtofbrickwithlime the structuresinDhaka stone is available andnohardwood grows, allof wherenobuilding of Bengal land In suchadeltaic katras, idgahandbridges. palaces, mosques,tombs,hammams,fortresses, magnificent buildings which took mainly the form of gradually expanded and embellished with numerous the governors. The cityof MughalDhakawasthus by privatepersonsfollowedthisexampleset and officers India. government notable nobles, The inspiration largelyfromtraditionalstylesofUpper drawing they hadtheopportunityto erect buildings prevailed throughout the country. Due to that stability stability that political rules their dynamic was under of them werekeenloversof art and architecture.It ions forspiritualsustainability. shidabad was made the Location ofSiteinDhakaMap Figure 1,2&3: Mosque haveaMughalflavor. for Elephants)areaandnorthpoint’s Allah Karim It is a very old road; even the ‘Pilkhana’ (Place and Mohammadpurbusstandisthenorthpoint. to north.Pilkhana’s southpoint isthe 4thgate This particular road of Dhanmondi goes south there onSatMasjidRoadandnearbyareas. still are structures significant Some architecture. The citywasfullofgorgeouspiecesMughal rule. theMughal past during had aglorious Dhaka Physical Aspects: Image ofSatGambujMosque Figure 4: Sustaining theIdentityofSpiritualMughalMonuments:CaseSatMasjidRoadDhaka the Unknown Tomb’. Butitssizeandornamentation missing and there is no reliable reference it is called a highbase. is of thismausoleum As theinscription On the oppositeside,thereisanoldmausoleumon road, veryclosetoSatMasjidRoad. the most famous one, isonthe south point ofthe ring Gambuj Masjid and Sat Masjid. Sat Gambuj Mosque, Commonly, two names of this mosque are used, Sat Actually, this roadleadsto the Sat Gambuj Mosque. architectural heritagecalledSatGambujMosque. The nameSat Masjid isalsoevolvedfrom a Mughal Image ofUnknownTomb (HAQUE,2009) Figure 5:

Nakhara 17 Nakhara 18 Original Imageof Allah KuriMosque(collected) Figure 6: of oldestinDhaka.(Figure8) actually was avery oldmausoleum, andmay beone Road. Situatedbesidea huge pond,thismosque Bibi’s MosqueinLalmatia’s F Block andSatMasjid A rowofmodernbuildingsisthebarrierbetween (Figure 6&7) figure. in shown as minars corner four with shape, in square was structure single-domed small actual the 1950sandanewstructurebuiltinitsplace. The in demolished was structure near-to-ruins a that common trendin this country; so it is no surprise Khan’s time.Destroying oldheritagesitesisa experts hadassumedthemosquewasfromShaista structure has beendemolished.By observing that, inscription. missing the to main original the Also be dateddue It cannot images. in old can beseen empty space(for a plaque)onthecentralgateway may justbeastory.was there. But aninscription An It Why didtheRajadoso,thereisnoexplanation. removed by the Raja of Bhawal in the last century”. in the1950s: ,“It is reported that the inscription was Kuri (orKurir)Mosque.Dr Ahmad HasanDaniwrote believe thatitisaveryoldmosque,oncecalled Allah to impossible it isquite condition, its present Seeing shopping complex, at the Mohammadpur bus stand. Allah KarimMosqueisalargemosque,with (Figure 4&5) mihrab (niche). That isveryuncommonintheregion. openings, except on the western side, whichhasa instead of a dome.It is asquarestructurewiththree vault, flat a is roof Khan’stime. The Shaista in built The architectural style alsoindicatesit was likely person. important an of definitely is it that declares Jinia Sharmeen Dacca. Allakuri’s Mosque(Cir.1680) Existing Imageof Allah KuriMosque Figure 7: it isnowusedforprayer. The mihrab inthewestern and it foramosque have mistaken people the local added totheinterior. As therewasnograveinside, The building is now repaired, with some new features definitely stated. be Begam was,cannot India. WhoDara Northern a tombascanbeseen sees amihrabinside never one atomb,becauseinBengal doubt ofitsbeing its destruction. The existenceofamihrabraises of speak local in thegeneral but thepeople inside, state the object of the building.Nogravenowexists in the pre-Shaista Khan’s period. It is also difficult to it places decorations sparse the and doorway central arched openingswithnoattempt to emphasize the definitely known.However, theuseofasimple with acentralnave. is not The dateofthisbuilding The mosque’s unique old structure is single-domed . heritage site.(DaraBegam’s Tomb Dhaka) education) complex, and it is hard to accept it as a institution forIslamic part ofamadrassa(residential completed inthe Pakistan period. Currently it is The transformation from atomb to mosque was dome. built tobeartheweightofsuchanenormous strongly was below room Definitely, the 1970s. the in renovation, possibly during made were changes But taken inthe1950s. in photos as canbeseen dome inDhaka.Primarily, its shapeistotallyround, diameter, andthere is noother example of such abig The mainattractionisthelargedome,25feetin a Mughalorpre-mosque.(Figure9) instead ofontheeasternside,whichiscommonfor with aislesonthesouthside, as ithasaverandah wall consolidatedthisbelief.But it is notamosque, Allakuri’s Mosque (turnedintoamarketcomplex) contain metalgrills,whichistotallyunacceptable. collapsed, have been rebuilt. The present walls completely had and high six-feet about were which mihrab. central the above just walls, three other The other mihrabsonbothsides. was set An inscription In the middle, there is a central mihrab, with six a different lookafter twomajorrenovations. Only thewesternwallisoriginal,butitsfaçadebears of of Boro Katra). Shah Shujaandbuilder (a Diwan was builtby Mir the Eidgah inscription, Abul Qasim where an inscription can be found. As per the only site among Sat Masjid Road’s Mughal structures 7/A of Dhanmondi, and is 374-years-old. This is the Eidgah onSatMasjidRoad,betweenroads6/A and Monuments of SatMasjid Road Dhaka. (Figure 10 & 11) Eidgah isoneofthemostimportantspiritualMughal Original ImageofDaraBegam’s Tomb (collected) Figure 8: Some imagesofMughalEidgahon SatMasjidRoad Figure 10&11: Dacca. DaraBegam’s tomb(mid-17thcentury) Sustaining theIdentityofSpiritualMughalMonuments:CaseSatMasjidRoadDhaka It is reportedthat the rulerandotherelitescame Existing ImageofDaraBegam’s Tomb Figure 9: a barrier around these Mughal spiritual monuments. removal ofunwantedconstructionwhichisactingas the be must task first The better. things making in take alead entrusted withprotectingsuchsites,will Hopefully, the Department of Archaeology (DoA), history. Butallof thestructures areinawfulcondition. heritage, whichisalmost missing from written The oldstructuresrepresentaveryrichurban it toservecitizens’ interest.(Khan,2015) different utility services having set up offices around present conditionoftheEidgahishorrible,with River) wasthewaytocomehere.However, the community). A branch of an extinct river (Pandu here to pray during Eid(BiggestFestivalfor Muslim Dara Begam’s tomb

Nakhara 19 Nakhara 20 Different phasesofSatGambujMosque (Collected) Figure 12,13&14: mosque authorities,whobroughtchangestoits and officials archaeological the by renovations” Saat Gombuj Masjid, bears the scars of “ill-conceived towers aretwo-storied.(Figure 12) a special design. The prayer hall is one-storied, but The four corner octagonaltowers were builtusing with twominarets. is adorned The centralentrance mosques. Mughal is thelargest. dome The middle one. The mosque islongernorthto south, likeother two parts. There aresomeoldgravesinthe outer of Dhaka. mosques into The frontyardisdivided and domesmakethemosquedifferent fromother the basis for its name. Four hollow large towers the river, The mosqueissevendomed,which today. A madrassa is there now, encroaching on to theplace. beauty istotallydifferentThe situation River,bank oftheBuriganga which inpastadded era. Subahdar’s was onthe At thetime,mosque of Shaista Khan, as style the building is from the But experts say itwasbuiltinthe1680stime was named. road adjoining There isnoinscription. an after which as SaatMasjid, known It ispopularly Saat GombujMasjid Case Study1: heritage valueandisatestimonialofpastera. dynasty, havehistorical,spiritual,architecturaland monumental structures built during the Mughal detailed analysis of that specified area. These structures havebeenchosenascasestudiesfor architecture of Sat Masjid Road, two most prominent To understand the existing condition of Mughal DECAYDESTRUCTION AND AREA AND REASONSBEHIND EXISTING CONDITIONOFTHE Jinia Sharmeen including constructing a washroom with tiled floor, tiled with washroom a constructing including several changesinitsdesign, mosque incorporated from the color, committee the management of the color was “ill- conceived” and “wrongheaded.” Apart department of archaeology, said the plan to change Dr of the director currentregional Ataur Rahman, plaster andrestoreittoitsformerlook.(Figure 13 & 14) mosque’s the changing including repairs; damaged tomakeafewmore in anotherproject engaged 2003. Later, in the last fiscal year, the government sites, tookupaprojecttorenovatethemosquein is responsibleforconservationofarchaeological changed whenthedepartmentofarchaeology, which on variousoccasions.Sourcessaid,thecolorwas were made ago, andseveralotherchanges decade original colorpaleredwaschangedtowhiteabouta de original (seven-domed of therooftophencenameSaatGombujMasjid prayer hallandfoursmallonesonallcorners main the over placed domes onion-shaped large attendance of those offering prayers. There are three rooms atthefronttomeet increased canopied making by hall prayer the lengthened authorities its walls measures four feet. In recent times, the of and thethickness 27 feetwide and 38 feetlong is about west ofthemosque.SaatMasjid kilometer one off flows now and course its changed river the landscaped landcoveredwithforests.Withtime, the mosque whenit wasbuilt onabeautifully past flow to used River Buriganga The altered. or of an archaeological site should not be damaged with regardtorenovatingamonument.Originality should bestrictaboutimplementingguidelines proper renovation by the authorities. Government and of commonpeople awareness proper require process ofsites, distortion ofwhich archaeological to Ataur suchchangesmayaddtoagradual side wallsandmodern toilet facilities. According sign over the years. years. overthe sign mosque’sThe mosque). (Siddique,2013) the country it is suffering from a kindof apathy from like manyotherhistoricalsitessituatedelsewherein preserve such places of historical importance. But, Eidgah is still being used. There are rules and laws to 358-year-old The prayers. Eid say to here come to country. used andDiwans The MughalSubehdars past ofthe with theglorious site haslinks historical it. to preserve and lackofinitiative negligence This landmark that has beenfacing threat of decay dueto Mughal unique an is ground, Eidgah Dhanmondi The Dhanmondi EidgahGround Case Study2: endangered. (Figure15&16) The identity and intregity of is this historic building structure. of thisMughal value as historic as well was builtwithoutminimumsensitivitytothespiritual Few yearsagoamultistoriedmadrasaabuilding Insensitive developmentssurroundedbySatGambujMosque Figure 15&16: Insensible growthsurroundedby Dhanmondi Eidgahground(Collected) Figure 17&18: Sustaining theIdentityofSpiritualMughalMonuments:CaseSatMasjidRoadDhaka the quarte the Eidgah for constructingadormitorytheemployeesof as asidewall used has been oftheEidgah The wall lookoftheheritage monument. the elegant spoiled Ahave in its premises built a mosque libraryand a threattoitsexistence. ancient structureisposing (Public works department) near the wall of the WASA (Water and sewerage Authority) andPWD by aroad Digging tovibration. due foundation theEidgah’s tohaveweakened is believed building a drilling rig used during the construction of the the main entrance. According to an expert’s opinion blocked has Eidgah the of feet five within building of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. A newly constructed Shuja - Mughal governor of the Bengal and the son Qasim Dewan who was ordered by Prince Shah The Eidgahwasconstructedin1640byMir Abul (Figure2015) (Sun, 2015) 17 & 18) affordEidgah, Dhanmondi historic it. (Save tolose rs concerned. But city dwellers cannot rs concerned.Butcitydwellers Mosque.Moreover, randomuseofits

Nakhara 21 Nakhara 22 Kazmi, 2008 ) Some of these reasons behind decay behind Kazmi, 2008)Someofthesereasons to keepthemonumentingood condition.(Awan & refers to Conservation systematic measurestaken either act separately or in various combinations. natural factors and human actions. These factors factors, including the properties of material itself, the anumber of by influenced is process a such of aggressive environments. The rateandsymptoms buildings undergo deterioration when exposed to All the materials used in the construction of historical Destruction Reasons behindDecayand Mihrab (centralprayer-niche).(Ali,2009) Centre’Research ten feetofEidgah’s within central that mosque committeehasturnedintoa ‘Islamic shop by thegrocery overshadowed been has also the newmosquetogetEidgah. The monument around to takeadetour have now visitors aspiring the and Eid-congregation of Devotees it. to entry main the blocked has Eidgah the of feet five within building under-construction The Rules. Building Construction Building Metropolitan Dhaka Act and Unnayan Kartripakkha(Rajuk)asrequiredbythe research centrewithoutapprovalfromRajdhani is constructingthebuildingandmaintaining approval. DhanmondiEidgahmosquecommittee mosque ontheEidgahpremiseswithoutRajuk six-storey a erecting is centre’and ‘research a into a localmosquecommitteehasturnedgroceryshop capital stands concealed by permanent structures as Eidgah structureinthe Mughal surviving The oldest (Figure 19&20) (Save historic DhanmondiEidgah, 2015)(Sun, 2015) processofdecay. the isaccelerating land abandoned Arbitrary useofitsabandonedlandDhanmondiEidgahground(Collected) Figure 19&20: Jinia Sharmeen given below: and destru building, on differentwriting onwalls,climbing elementsof common. by the monuments The visitorsdamage number of guards, un- authorized visitors are very cultural treasureofthenation. But duetoinadequate historical relicbut also anarchitecturalpieceanda monuments. For example Eidgah is not only a Proper maintenance is missing for these spiritual structural strengthinsuperstructure. foundation strengthby affecting subsoil,andlossof from surroundingconstructioncancauselossof tobe destructive forthehistoricbuilding. The vibration have proved road, the on traffic heavy by vibrations transmittedtothesubsoilMechanical monument. consideration towards a historical as well as spiritual affected the stone. There has been no fortification or directly exposed to the road, so pollution has greatly is of Eidgah wall of thebusyroadsDhaka.The one is comparatively road,which the SaatMasjid the case of The Eidgah, it is located adjacent to monuments.For realm and thespiritual the public There is no existenceof buffering spacebetween the religiousmonument. of implication look andspiritual has spoiltthedivine monuments spiritual these around building huge a of Concerned peoplearenotbotheredthatconstruction underlying causesofneglect. etc. are the and administrative political economical, of destruction. Aof issuessuchassocial, number Neglect andignorancearepossiblythemajorcauses using itasplaygroundetc. ction of spiritual Mughalmonumentsare Due to religion is beingoneof Due to the moreimportant religion buildings, whicharealreadyin danger. heritage take somestepstoprotectand preserve listed as heritage sites for Dhaka. Authorities should times tosavetheoldstructures astheyarealready Mosque andMughal Eidgah have attempted several Satgumbad significance, historical of perspective the From significance. spiritual is other the and two reasons. One reason is the historical significance These MughalMonumentsshouldbepreservedfor RECOMMENDATIONS the poshDhanmondiresidentialarea. road, of situated attheSatmasjid Gombuj Masjid of buildingsaroundtheEidgahaswellSaat flouted for unknown reasons during the construction for plan approval. These rules have clearly been Unnayan Committee before approachingthe Rajuk permission of government’s high-powered Nagar of an archaeological and heritage site must have radius 250-metre within work development any that requires 2008, Code, Building National The REGULATIONSRULES AND normal rulesandprocedure. that concernedagencies,cannot keeppacewith the connections with the government’s policymakers establishing in fast so are who committees, mosque in people influential high of Involvement the nameofconservationbybuilders. in at thetimeofreconstruction was applied which deterioration isduetoimproperbuildingtechniques, places some In techniques. conservation poor alsocomesunder activities inthewrongsequence conservation design anddetailingplusunplanned causing furtherdamage. Altering theoriginal material, original the with un-favorably react which orusingunsuitablematerials, often doneinexpertly are work.Repairs restoration regarding knowledge, Poor conservation is the result of lack of technical destruction. the decayand causing of thereasons structuresisone the originallookof these heritage Improper guidanceandlimitedknowledgetoprotect structure amongthelocalpeople. about the sanctity and historical value of the Mughal the heritageiconsofDhakacity. Less awareness Government hasnoproperregulationtoprotectall Sustaining theIdentityofSpiritualMughalMonuments:CaseSatMasjidRoadDhaka oneself inprayer. space andpreparationtodevote symbol ofablution as a as representatingthewaterbodyinmosques aswell bank river the from approach interesting and the ghats should be improved to ensure an fabric. The access linkage between the artifacts settlements onthe imposed the newly and course and inner city because of the change inthe river lost their original approach from the riverside The Mughal buildingsalongthe river bankalready mostly visitedMughalstructuresinDhaka. Satgumbad Mosque. The Mosqueisoneofthe the monument and the general interests of The act thatmaydamagethemeaningandimageof representatives; with the purpose to avoid any administrations, academic institutions, citizens’ It shouldbedonebyconsensusbetweenpublic monuments aregivenbelow. (Hossain, 2013) to save the spiritual Mughal Dhaka”: Old in settlements Mughal the integrate to suggestion madebyHossaininhispaper“Strategies Some originalrecommendationsalongwiththe carrying theidentityofreligion. essence ofthecity. These spiritualbuildingsare steps shouldbetakentopreservethespiritual driving f and plann transportation, architecture,air pollution,drainage response to cultural andenvironmental degradation, with thatarea.Conservation, ecology, planning associated problems cultural and ecological address which should is required Proper planning the structure. strengthen to necessary is grouting and pointing work to regular maintenance of building. Regular The efforts shouldbeshiftedfromrestoration city levels. to services fromtheneighborhood urban manage considered, alongwithgovernmentsystems,to substantial control over the local society may be have that systems management community-based properties. protect theheritage that will Traditional action collective on acommonplatformtogenerate to unite need stakeholders all Owners, users,and integrity ofthehistoriccity. need toberecoveredrevealtheidentityand The riversideelevationsoftheMughalbuildings orces of social context of Bangladesh, proper orces of socialcontext of Bangladesh, proper ing basedontourismisrequired.

Nakhara 23 Nakhara 24 from c carr ordinary monuments or v plaster lime, becomes stone, of made be may are which monuments Mughal The CONCLUDING REMARKS historical patrimonyandensurereligiousviability. Managing spaces. inter of degrees Different Jinia Sharmeen Star: http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-72733 risk. at Eidgah Mughal-era 25). January (2009, T. Ali, muhammadpur/ dhanm tour Alak REFERENCES Mughal ArchitectureinDhaka. continued be will monuments indigenous the and Road spiritual the preserve designers trained will which easily effort s of area an Road, Masjid Sat significant the of heart The S university. a of equivalent the as considered could what culture own their of understanding knowledge of source unique a as also and sacred as recognized These are monuments generation. after generation on legendary been since has existence as judged be place cannot significance a with them provide or they because itself building plans s thus and spaces spiritual historical of and Policy s important. is transformation es c m can the in rigidity avoid to monuments Mughal different for eil utrl au ad significanc and value cultural pecial These alue. hould be formulated to focus on the adaptive reuse adaptive the on focus to formulated be hould nrl h increasing the ontrol atgumbad Mos atgumbad nmns to onuments alsmn functions tablishment architectural conservation. Urban fabric through fabric Urban conservation. architectural uri’s is development of contextual circulation patterns circulation contextual of development

Tourism m by the academic and public institutions can institutions public and academic the by andi- - nac te lr o St ajd Road, Masjid Sat of glory the enhance lo rmt itreain among interrelation promote also M in- os banglades lot teel eas o is spiritual its of because ethereal almost que group- ak h ra clua iett. The identity. cultural real the mark in at his Bangladesh: M que and Mughal Eidgah are the are Eidgah Mughal and que niae onciiy n spiritual in connectivity indicate of- ied uham toric il e be o osre and conserve to able be will m h/m onuments/alakuris h ubn dynam urban the v l s el as well as al madpur ughal-monum oe egt hn the than weight more entions may entions eiae f a M Sat of heritage

ides osrcin puts construction Mindless eree fo Te Daily The from Retrieved ht cause that

http://khaledrentacar.com inspire and heal them heal and inspire eteis f spiritual of aesthetics , Dhaka. s h gadu of grandeur the as o pae Their peace. for pres be synthesized be bidn, its building, a ents ( n.d.) and passed and - ue on sure e. m - s in-dhaka osque- . afeguard small A Retriev M c to ics piritual places ughal rapid asjid and lay at- be ed

Retriev Is Dhaka. Old Research, 2 in Mughal the settlements integrate to Strategies (2013). S. M. Hossain, heritage-of-mughals-may-2009/ photos.ar archaeological HAQUE, dara-begams-tomb/ k Dara http:// bangladesh: of encyclopedia en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Mosque_ Architecture national the from (2003). Banglapedia. Sciences Lahore. http://www.daily-sun.com/arcprint/details D. Sun, Wik m Present (2008). S. N. Kazmi, and & Y., M. Awan, historic-Dhanmondi-Eidgah/2015-05-03 c 2013/aug/24/historic-mosque-loses-originality-due-ill- DhakaTribune: originality Siddique, Association of Structure, Shamsuzzoha, Tourism InBangladesh. Mughal Tourism inBangladesh. Mughal www.theindependentbd.com/home/printnews/19400 M Khan, 15). 2014/06/mughal-architecture-in-bangladesh.html June (2014, Bangladesh H. Islam, onceived-renov haledrentacar lam asjid onuments ipedia: https://en.wik dea Dhaka. medieval

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(2015, Mosques Mosques ifulhaque.com/saat- , 2,51-58. aitn ora o Egneig n Applied and Engineering of Journal Pakistan Road. A. B. A. due A. Banglades R. decoration . (4),420–434. -

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of of A., h. 3). Daily Dhaka Dhaka. ipedia.or Dhaka. October May). and August 24). August Save of ( Retrieved Architecture. Mosque 2016, J m o Jhni a Shahdara, at Jahangir of tomb m Mughals. ournal & . from asjid- m materials: S Dhaka Dhaka andi- g/wiki/Islam historic S (n.d.). un- - renovations. 15). aat in-bangladesh/mughal- rnir o Architectural of Frontiers J a-remaining-archaeological- uly The Islam, uhl rhtcue in architecture Mughal True s group- , 1(1),93-107. of Historic Masjid, Guide Guide Hidden Retrieved Retrieved

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ondition Eidgah. (2011). Dhaka: Dhaka: of http:// http:// http:// loses fr from tial: Sat om /