Dhaka Gate: The Forgotten History of Dhaka City

Dhaka Gate: The Forgotten History of Dhaka City

Once upon a time, it wont to mark the terminus of the most important city of undivided Bengal; currently it lies uncared for, surrounded by bushes, covered by posters, during a shadowy corner of Dhaka University campus. it's the Dhaka gate, popularly referred to as the gate of Mir Jumla, the Mughal governor of Bengal, renowned for securing Dhaka and its inhabitants from the raids of pirates and slave traders. From 17th to the start of the 19th century, this gate was the most entrance to Dhaka city which, at that point , flourished on the banks of the Buriganga River.

Dhaka Gate in 1875. Photo: Courtesy

According to popular belief, during the reign of Mughal emperor, Aurangazeb, Dhaka, the capital of Bengal – a Mughal province much larger than current Bangladesh – began to expand rapidly. The then governor of Bengal, Mir Jumla, surveyed the town to create some fortresses and gates to guard its citizens from the Magh pirates. After determining the town area, Mir Jumla, in around 1663 AD, erected this gate to mark the northern entrance of Dhaka. Outside the gate, Mir Jumla established a gorgeous garden and named it Bagh-e-Badshahi (the emperor's garden). Afterwards, British rulers converted the garden into a race course and, after Bangladesh's independence, the race course was replaced by the Suhrawardi Uddyan, one among the foremost popular city parks of Dhaka.

However, after the autumn of the Mughal Empire, Dhaka lost much of its splendour and therefore the gate was almost ruined. consistent with archaeologists, British magistrate Charles Daws may have rebuilt the gate in 1825. The gate's structure reflects a eu style of architecture which isn't common among Mughal structures situated in several parts of Dhaka.

An unknown photographer took a photograph of this gate in 1875 – the sole source that permits us to ascertain the gate's original structure. the whole structure are often divided into three parts: two sliding walls and a central pillar. Each segment of the sliding walls is supported by several pillars supporting the structures. The pillars and therefore the upper portion of the walls are decorated with cornice shaped designs and patterns. The pillars also are crowned with decorative spherical structures. The blurry, old photo taken in 1875, shows people riding on elephants through the gate, which proves that the gate was still functional during British rule.

The Dhaka Gate

After partition, Dhaka, under the Pakistan government, underwent further expansions. it's said that the gate was further reconstructed to widen the roads during late 1950s. Currently, the sliding walls are covered with moss and algae as nobody cares about this ancient structure. The central pillar is additionally used as a panel for sticking posters and advertisements. Although this monument has been enlisted together of the protected sites by the govt , there's no public service announcement to form people aware of the structure's historical significance.

Another factor threatening the site's existence is that the proposed metro rail goes through it. As a result, the department of archaeology isn't making any efforts to preserve it, consistent with its officials. On the opposite hand, although it's situated in Dhaka University campus, the university authority cannot lookout of the structure as, by law, it's to be protected by the department of archaeology. it's very unfortunate that thanks to such bureaucratic complexity, one among Dhaka's most vital monuments is decaying ahead of our very eyes.

It is very hard to believe that such a big heritage site of our city is being ruined at Dhaka University campus, the city's intellectual heart. with none further delay, the govt must take measures to preserve the structure, paying special attention to the likelihood of irreparable damage during construction work around this heritage site.