The History For Baro-Bhuiyans Of Bengal

At the end of the Karrani Dynasty, the nobles of Bengal became fiercely independent. Sulaiman Khan Karrani carved out an independent principality in the Bhati region comprising a part of greater Dhaka district and parts of Mymensingh district. During that period Taj Khan Karrani and another Afghan chieftain who helped Isa Khan to obtain an estate in Sonargaon and Mymensingh in 1564. By winning the grace of the Afghan, chieftain, Isa Khan gradually increased his strength and status and by 1571 Mughal Court designated him as the ruler of Bhati.

Bhati region

Mughal histories, mainly the Akbarnama, the Ain-i-Akbari and the Baharistan-i-Ghaibi refers to the low-lying regions of Bengal as Bhati.

This region includes the Bhagirathi to the Meghna River is Bhati, while others include Hijli, Jessore, Chandradwip and Barisal Division in Bhati. Keeping in view the theatre of warfare between the Bara-Bhuiyans and the Mughals, the Baharistan-i-Ghaibi mentions the limits of the area bounded by the Ichamati River in the west, the Ganges in the south, the Tripura to the east; Alapsingh pargana (in present Mymensingh District) and Baniachang (in greater Sylhet) in the north. The Bara-Bhuiyans rose to power in this region and put up resistance to the Mughals, until Islam Khan Chisti made them submit in the reign of Jahangir.

Isa Khan

Isa Khan was the leader of the Baro Bhuiyans (twelve landlords) and a Zamindar of the Bhati region in medieval Bengal. Throughout his reign he put resistance against Mughal invasion. It was only after his death, when the region went totally under Mughals.

The Jesuit mission who sent to Bengal managed to identify that 3 of the chieftains were Hindus, they were Bakla of Bakarganj, Sripur of southeastern Dhaka (another source record the chief was Kedar Rai of Vikrampur), and Chandechan of Jessore while the rest were Muslims during Isa Khan's rule which in following decades N.K Bhattasali managed to identify some of them, which consisting:

• Uthman of Bokainagar.
• Ma'sum Khan Kabuli of Chatmogar in Pabna.
• Madhu Ray of Khalsi.
• Raja Ray of Shahzadpur in eastern Pabna.
• the Ghazi Family in Bhowal on Dhaka which consisted Fazl Ghazi with his son and inheritor, Bahadhur Ghazi(who possessed large Naval fleets which was the main factor of Isa Khan's resistance against Mughal forces) along with Sona Ghazi and Anwar Ghazi.
• Pahlawan of Matang in southwestern Sylhet
• Nabud/Madan of Chandrapratap
• Ram Chandra of Bakhla

The Located Shitalakkha River Of Narayangang

Narayanganj (Bengali: নারায়ণগঞ্জ Naraeongônj) is a city in central Bangladesh. It is located in the Narayanganj District, near the capital city of Dhaka and has a population of 220,000. The city is on the bank of the Shitalakshya River. The river port of Narayanganj is one of the oldest in Bangladesh.

Some Picture Of Goaldi Mosque In Sonargaon

History Of Goaldi Mosque Surviving Medieval Monument

History

Built in 1519, the graceful, single-domed Goaldi Mosque is the most impressive of the few extant monuments of the old capital city, and a good example of pre-Mughal architecture.

This mosque is one of the few remnants from the Sultanate period in Sonargaon, during the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah in 925 Hijri (1519AD). It was built by Mulla Hizabar Akbar Khan in the early 16th century, during the reign of Alauddin Husain Shah at a place called Goaldi - half a mile northeast of Panam village in Sonargaon. Sonargaon was the administrative center of medieval Muslim rulers of East Bengal. It became as the capital of Bengal during Isa Khan's ruling. The area falls under present-day Narayanganj District, Bangladesh. This mosque is more elegant and ornate in comparison to the earlier Sultanate mosques at Bagerhat.

Architectural features

The Goaldi mosque is a good example of the 'enclosed square type' mosque of Bengal that is distinguished by a cubical prayer chamber with corner towers and entrances on all sides except the qibla wall. A single dome caps the mosque; engaged ribbed turrets define the four corners; and the cornice is gently sloped. Circular corner towers are a deviation from the usual octagonal corner towers. This is the only example of circular corner towers in the Dhaka district. Accentuating the cornice is a row of small niches with floral motifs inside.

The east facade has three arched openings, embellished on either sides with rectangular panels of delicate relief work in the form of a niche with an ornamental hanging lamp motif. The north and south facades similarly display three arches, though only the center arch is open while the two side arches are blind.

The cubical prayer chamber measures 7.57 m and the walls are 2 m thick. The dome is carried on squinches that spring from the tops of stone pilasters, two on each wall. The qibla wall has three mihrabs. The use of black basalt for the central mihrab was a common practice during the sixteenth century. It is decorated with beautiful, intricate patterns composed of an ornamental hanging lamp motif. The two flanking mihrabs are decorated in similar fashion but instead of black basalt they are made of brick and fine terra cotta work. Lotus motifs are found carved in the spandrels and are closely related to the lotuses held by the Hindu god, Surya.

Present condition

The condition of mosque had deteriorated: with the exception of the qibla wall the entire mosque had collapsed, including the dome. Careful restoration was executed by the Department of Archaeology and Museums and this small graceful mosque is now restored to resemble its original design.

Architectural Description Of Goaldi Mosque

Goaldi Mosque one of the very few surviving medieval monuments in the city of sonargaon. About six km northwest of the little township of Panam, near Sonargaon in Narayanganj district, there are two such precariously surviving old single-domed mosques in the sequestered hamlet of Goaldi, virtually hidden behind thick bamboo brakes and clusters of mango and jackfruit tree groves.

Goaldi Mosque, Sonargaon

One of the mosques was built in 1116 AH / 1705 AD by a certain Abdul Hamid, during the reign of Mughal Emperor aurangzeb.

This elegant little pre-Mughal mosque - the oldest in the area - was in utter ruins when declared ‘protected’ by the Department of archaeology, but subsequently the monument was carefully restored in 1975 AD. Provided with three arched entrances to the edifice on the east and one each on the north and the south (now bricked up) the base of the dome rests on squinch arches at the four corners which support the dome on pendentives.

There are some ornamental black stone pillars inside the prayer hall for the support of the roof. Corresponding to the three arched doorways on the east there are three richly decorated mihrabs on the west wall, of which the central one is bigger and beautifully embellished with curved floral and arabesque relief on dark black stone, but the flanking side mihrabs are ornamented with delicate terracotta floral and geometric patterns. The central stone mihrab is framed within an arched panel with an expanded sunflower motif in the centre. Below that the spandrels of the multi-cusped arch of the mihrab are decorated within a rectangular frame. The engrailed arched recess is carried on stunted octagonal pillars faceted at stages. Four round-banded turrets at the outer corners rise up to the curvilinear cornice.

Look Below For Panam City

Panam City is located in a 10 minutes walking distance from the foundation gate. This once residence of the rich businessmen of Sonargaon has no boundary wall surrounding it. So you can dwell around the old buildings any time you like. 

Fishing on the lake:

You can do fishing by hook on the lake. Price is 1,500 tk. for a whole day. You have to bring your own hook.

Picnic spot hiring:

There is place inside the foundation premises to organize picnic. Contact the foundation for price details.

Shooting of film:

For shooting inside the foundation premises, the charge is 5,000 tk. for a whole day.

Visiting For Sonargaon Folk Arts Museum

Sonargaon – The once capital of Bengal, is a place where you can see the country’s heritage. The main place to visit here is the Folk Arts and Crafts museum located inside the Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation premises, the nearby old city from colonial period – Panam, and the beautiful Goaldi Mosque from the sultanate period.

Ticket Price:

Ticket price for entering the foundation premises is 20 tk. for locals and 100 tk. for the foreigners. You do not need any separate ticket to enter the museum.

Parking:

Adjacent to the foundation is the newly renovated car parking area. The area is big enough to park lots of cars and buses. The charge for parking is as follows (no time limit):

• Cars, SUVs, Vans (NOAH/HIACE): 50 tk.
• Coaster: 75 tk.


• Bus: 120 tk.
• Baby Taxi: 20 tk.
• Motor Byke: 15 tk.
• Bicycle: 5 tk.

Boat Riding at Lake:

There is arrangement of riding in boats on the lake inside the foundation premises. Ticket price for boat riding is 20 tk. per person for 30 minutes.

Fishing on the lake:

You can do fishing by hook on the lake. Price is 1,500 tk. for a whole day. You have to bring your own hook.

Picnic spot hiring:

There is place inside the foundation premises to organize picnic. Contact the foundation for price details.

Shooting of film:

For shooting inside the foundation premises, the charge is 5,000 tk. for a whole day.

Visiting Hours of Sonargaon Museum

• Friday – Tuesday: Foundation premises is open from 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, and the museum is open from 9.30 am – 4.30 pm. Museum galleries are closed at 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm at Friday only for the Jum’a prayer.
• Wednesday & Thursday: Closed.
• Government holidays: Closed.