A Report on Heritage Site: The 60 Dome Mosque By Mahjabeen Siddique

Introduction is a land filled with rich history, culture and antiquities. It has beautiful monuments and historical places that have been cherished and preserved for centuries. Among many, two iconic historical places are the 60 Domes Mosque otherwise known as Shat Gombuj Masjid located in Bagerhat . The mosque has withstood the test of time and now attracts tourists from around the world.

Background of the Site: 60 Dome Mosque The 60 Dome Mosque or the Shat Gambuj Mosque in the Mosque City Bagerhat was built under the rule of Khan al-Azam Ulugh Khan Jahan during the . The construction of the mosque began in 1442 and finished in 1459. To this day, it is the largest mosque ever built from the time of the Bengal Sultanate period (1204-1576).

The beautiful mosque represents the famous Mughal style architecture that was provincial in Bangladesh during the 17th century. The mosque was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

1 Collected From: Alluring World

Situation Analysis There are multiple internal and external factors that affect the 60 Dome Mosque.

Environment of the Site The total area of the mosque is about 17,280 sq. ft. Despite the name, 60 domes, the mosque actually has 77 domes and can accommodate about 2000 people during prayer time.

The entirety of the mosque is made of thick bricks. There are eleven arched doorways on the east of the compound, seven doorways on the north and seven doorways on the south side and on the west there is one single doorway. In each corner there is a circular tower. The mosque has ten mihrabs that are decorated with terracotta.

The compound of the Museum is beautiful, peaceful and has trees around it. There is also a museum in the compound but it is under renovation and access is restricted. There is a beautiful lake behind the mosque.

2 Cleanliness and Locality The site itself is very clean. The inside is clean because the ground is used for praying five times a day and the outside is also kept very neat and clean. The grass and bushes are kept trimmed. The lake behind the mosque is also kept clean. The lake is famous for its blooming water lilies and people are restricted from plucking them.

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Preservation of the Site The site of the mosque is prone to various climate change effects. The main problems are saltwater intrusion and efflorescence. Efflorescence happens when saltwater makes its way through building materials and degrades the structure. This is a great risk for monuments in Bagerhat because most of the monuments and structures are built near sea levels and as the sea level rises due to climate change, the structures of the site might be at risk.

3 The conservation of this monumental landmark, property and buffer zone is yet to be addressed but a few primary issues including water salinity has been reported. A project called “South Asian Tourism Infrastructure Development Project” is announced to address these issues to further preserve the site.

The property and the area are managed and preserved under the Antiquities Act, 1968 (Amendment 1976). The Department of Archaeology also uses the Archaeological Works Code (1938), the Antiquities Export Control Act (1947), the Conservation Manual (1923) and the Immovable Antiquities Preservation Rules (1976) to protect the area. The department also ensures that no property that may affect the Universal Value of the property will be constructed within the property.

Current Situation The exterior and the interior of the mosque have been altered. There was a triangular pediment above the central entrance. It has now been removed. The Directorate of Archaeological, Bangladesh has covered the stone pillars and floor with plaster. The shafts are not slender anymore and because of the plaster cover, the pillars are bulkier and tend to take more interior space.

However, the exterior has not been covered with plasters or has not gone under any ornamentation. Various financial efforts have already been made to address the issue of conservation due to water salinity but it has not been solved and continues to deteriorate the site.

However, the site is popular among tourists. According to the reports of Bangladesh Shangad Shangstha (BSS), the 60 dome mosque accumulated over 73 lac taka during 2018-2019.

4 Collected From: The Daily Observer

Financial Situation of the Locale The port Mongla which is one of the main ports of Bangladesh is situated in Bagerhat. There are also two Upazila named Rampal and Fakirhat that produce huge amounts of shrimp and earn foreign exchange.

The socio-cultural environment and the livelihood of the people of Bagerhat are largely influenced by Shundarban and large areas of shrimp farming. As for industries, Bagerhat Sadar has a total of 28 coconut oil mills, 22 flour mills, 28 spice grinding mills, and 25 rice mills. There are also 1 bidi, 60 welders, 40 blacksmiths, 70 goldsmiths and 1 honey cultivation project

According to a consensus in Bagerhat about the Establishments by Economic Activity, 2013, there are a total of 98,154 establishments and 2, 71,512 people are actively working.

Scope for Betterment and Improvement Although the 60 Dome mosque attracts a lot of visitors and the town Bagherhat is financially solvent, there still is a significant lack of quality hotels, motels and restaurants for tourists to stay. The transportation route is also poor. It is best to visit the site on a day trip. 5 To attract more tourists and make sure they are comfortable, Bagerhat should increase the number of hotels, motels, restaurants and have dedicated tour guides and services for both local and foreign tourists.

Conclusion 60 Dome Mosque is a cherished historical place and a valuable heritage site. These sites and structures have withstood the test of time and represent the ancient Bengal civilization. To make sure these structures can attract more tourists and remain in their true forms, proper measures for conservation, protection and renovation should be taken.

Reference 1. Sixty Dome Mosque - Wikipedia. (2021). Retrieved 30 March 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixty_Dome_Mosque 2. The mosque of the sixty domes. (2021). Retrieved 30 March 2021, from https://www.dhakatribune.com/feature/2019/05/12/the-mosque-of-the-sixty-domes 3. Sixty Dome Mosque - Bangladesh Science Foundation. (2021). Retrieved 30 March 2021, from https://www.bsf.org.bd/bangladesh-an-overview/sixty-dome-mosque/ 4. Centre, U. (2021). Historic Mosque City of Bagerhat. Retrieved 30 March 2021, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/321/ 5. UNB, B. (2021). From ‘Chaad’ to ‘Shat Gambuj’: The mosque that enthralls. Retrieved 30 March 2021, from https://www.thedailystar.net/online/news/chaad-shat-gambuj-the-mosque-enthralls-16769 05

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