Shahbag

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Shahbag Thana

Shahbag Thana (Partial Map)
Administration
Wards	51, 52, 53
Parliamentary Seat	Dhaka-10 (Ramna-Tejgaon)
Municipalty	Dhaka
Coordinates	23°44'8.57" N, 90°23'45.54" E
RAB Area	RAB 3
Information
Shahbag Intersection (2006)
Established	2004*
Area	4.2 km²*
Population	112,000*
HQ	Shahbag Intersection
Neighbouring Thanas	Lalbag, Dhanmondi, Ramna, Kotwali, Paltan, New Market*
Website	DMP page on Shahbag
* Dhaka Metropolitan Police data

Shahbag (also Shahbaugh, Bengali: শাহবাগ Shabag; IPA: [ˈʃabag]) is a major neighbourhood and a police precinct or thana in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It serves as a junction between two distinctive parts of the city — Old Dhaka and New Dhaka. New Dhaka lies to the north of Shahbag, a major Mass Rapid Transit hubs^[1], while the old town lies to the south. Historically building of the new town began with Shahbag, which heralded the end of the old town's historic prominence. Originally developed under the rule of the Mughal dynasty in Bengal, Shahbag was known as Bagh-e-Badshahi (Farsi: Garden of the Kings), which is also the meaning of its present name, with Shah (Farsi:شاه, meaning king) and Bagh (Farsi: باغ, meaning garden).^[2] During the time of the British Raj, Shahbag, with its significant spiritual heritage, was incorporated into a broader area that came to be known as Ramna.

Shahbag is home to the University of Dhaka, which is the oldest and largest public university in Bangladesh, along with Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, the largest public university for technological studies, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, the only public medical university in the country and other educational facilities including the Bangladesh National Museum and the Central Public Library. Shahbag hosts a number of unique markets, including the largest book markets for imported and second-hand books in Bangladesh. The area serves as a hub for major festivals in post-independence Dhaka.

The beauty of Shahbag's numerous ponds, palaces and gardens have inspired the works of many famous penmen like poet Buddhadeva Bose, his wife singer Protiva Bose, and eminent writer-chronicler Hakim Habibur Rahman, as well as Obaidullah Suhrawardy and Abdul Gafoor Nassakh, two Urdu poets of 19th century Dhaka.^[3] The thana, with Dhaka University lying at it heart, played host to many significant political and cultural movements including All India Muslim Education Conference, the Language Movement, the Six point movement, and establishing Bengali New Year and Basanta Utsab as major cultural happenings, as well as civil society and student movements.^[4][5][6] It also played host to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech on March 7, 1971 that called for independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan, and the surrender of the Pakistani Army in Liberation War of Bangladesh.

Contents 1 History 2 Urban layout 3 Civic life 4 Culture 5 See also 6 References 7 Notes 8 External links

[edit] History

Urbanised settlement in the Dhaka area dates from the 7th century CE.^[7] The earliest evidence of urbanization in the Shahbag area is found at three shrines —- Mariam Saleha Mosque (a three-domed Mughal mosque in Nilkhet-Babupara),^[8] Musa Khan Mosque on the western side of Dhaka University,^[9][10] and Khwaja Shahbaz's Mosque-Tomb,^[11] located behind the Dhaka High Court. A Persian inscription over the central doorway of the Mariam Saleha Mosque records its construction by Mariam Saleha in 1706. An inscription over the central doorway of the Khwaja Shahbaz's Mosque-Tomb records its construction in 1679 by Khwaja Shahbaz, the merchant prince of Dhaka during the viceroyalty of Prince Muhammad Azam.^[12]

In 1610, the Mughals turned Dhaka into a provincial capital city and established the gardens of Shahhag. With the decline of Mughal power in Bengal in the 18th century, Shahbag or the Garden of the Kings became a forgotten project and fell into disrepair. Later, it became the property of the Naib Nazims (Deputy-Governors of a sub-province of East Bengal), who were the representatives of the Nawabs of Murshidabad. It was revived again in the early 19th century under the auspices of British colonial justice Griffith Cook^[13] and Aratun,^[14] who was a leader of then powerful Armenian community of Dhaka. In 1840, Nawab Khwaja Alimullah, father of Nawab Khwaja Abdul Ghani, assumed control of the area from the British. Later, in 1868, the responsibility of this zamindari (estate) was handed to his grandson Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah, founder of the Ahsan Manzil. His son, Sir Nawab Khwaja Salimullah, re-established the lost splendour of the gardens and divided them into two areas —- Shahbag (meaning garden of kings) and Paribag (meaning garden of fairies), named after Paribanu, one of the princesses.^[15] In 1830, the Ramna area, including Shahbag, became incorporated into Dhaka’s jurisdiction when Henry Walters, district collector of Dhaka, founded the Dhaka Committee^[16] for the development of Dhaka town.

After the Partition of Bengal (1905), many new houses of European design were built in the area, especially around the newly-built Fuller Road (named after Sir Bampfylde Fuller, the first Lieutenant Governor of the new province of East Bengal) in Nilkhet. Shahbag became home to the first zoo in Dhaka^{[17] [18]} and, in 1960 the office of Bangladesh Betar,^[19] the national radio station (then Pakistan Radio), along with the now-defunct race-course and the second electric power-plant in East Bengal. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman chose the Ramna Racecourse near Shahbag to give his historic speech calling for an independent Bangladesh on March 7, 1971. The Associated Press bureau chief in Pakistan, Arnold Zeitlin, Washington Post reporter David Greenway and other foreign journalists covered the liberation war while staying Hotel Intercontinental (now Hotel Sheraton) at the Shahbag Intersection, which was declared to be a neutral zone.^[20][21][22] The hotel still came under attack from both sides of the war —- the Mukti Bahini and Pakistani army.^[23][24] The Hotel Intercontinental was to be site of the surrender of the Pakistani command to allied command.^[23] Instead of the hotel, Lieutenant-General A. A. K. Niazi, commander of the Pakistani army, surrendered to Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora, commander of the Indian and Allied Forces, at the nearby Ramna Park (now Suhrawardy Uddan).

See also: History of Dhaka

[edit] Urban layout

Shahbag sits in the area between the Ramna Park and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on east; the Elephant Road on the west; between the University of Dhaka^[25] and Suhrawardy Udyan (Suhrawardy Park, formerly the Ramna Racecourse) in the south; and Hotel Sheraton and the Diabetic Hospital in the north.

Shahbag is home to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Control Room, a Dhaka Electric Supply Authority sub-station, the tombs of three leaders (A.K. Fazlul Huq, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Khwaja Nazimuddin), the Shishu Academy and several notable institutes of educational, health-related and spiritual significance. The major academic bodies around Shahbag Intersection and in Shahbag Thana include: Dhaka University, Dhaka Medical College, BUET, Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy, BSMMU,^[26] Institute of Fine Arts (known earlier as Dhaka Art College), Institute of Cost & Management Accountants, IBA, Institute of Modern Languages, Udayan School, University Laboratory School and Engineering University School.

The mansions that were built on Shabag by the Dhaka Nawab Family all played significant roles in the history of the city, and going beyond to play a role in the history of Bengal or even British India. The Dhaka Gate, erected by Mughal subadar of Bengal in 1660–1663 Mir Jumla, lies near the Bangla Academy.^[27]

• Ishrat Manzil: Once a mansion to host dances of the famous Baijees (including Piyari Bai, Heera Bai, Wamu Bai and Abedi Bai), it hosted the All India Muslim Education Society Conference attended by a delegation of 4,000 in 1906, which eventually grew into the Muslim League. In 1912, delegates of this Society under the leadership of Nawab Salimullah met here with Lord Hardinge, Viceroy of India) and later Baron of Penshurst. Later this building was rebuilt into Hotel Shahbag (Designed by British architects Edward Hicks and Ronald McConnel), the first multi-star hotel in Dhaka. In 1965 it was turned into into IPGMR (Institute of Post-graduate Medicine and Research), which in 1998 became the BSMMU (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University).^[18]

• Jalsaghar: This building, used as a skating rink and a ballroom for the Nawabs, later was converted as Modhur Canteen, the celebrated eatery of Dhaka University that served as the launch platform for all political-cultural movements against the Pakistani regime. Flanked by the Arts Faculty of Dhaka University and IBA (Institute of Business Administration) the Modhur Canteen still remains a powerful political catalyst.^[18][28]
• Nishat Manjil: Home of the princely stable and club-house for the Nawabs, this palace saw many Europeans visiting the place for entertainment over the years. Including receptions for Lord Dufferin (Viceroy of India), Lord Carmichael (Governor of Bengal), Sir Steuart Bayley (Lt. Governor of Bengal), Sir Charles Elliott (Lt. Governor of Bengal), and John Woodburn (Lt. Governor of Bengal).
• Paribag House: Built by Khwaja Salimullah in the memory of Pari Banu, his sister. In the times of decline of the Nawabs of Dhaka, Nawab Khwaja Habibullah, son of Salimullah, used to live here. The hammam (bath) and the hawakhana (green house) of this mansion inspired awe in early 20th century.^[15]
• Sujatpur Palace: The oldest mansion in the area, it later served as the residence for the Governor of East Bengal during the Pakistani Regime, and then was turned into the Bangla Academy, the supreme language authorities in Bangladesh. Parts of the palace grounds was handed over to the TSC (Teacher Student Center^[29][30]) of Dhaka University, which became a major cultural catalyst in mid 1970s.

[edit] Civic life

Mostly populated by teachers and students, civic life in Shahbag is dominted by the academic institutes in the thana. Markets in Shahbag reflect the character of the area dominated by academic institutes and cultural festivals. The markets around the area include the Katabon Market (the largest animal market in Bangladesh^[31]), the largest flower market in Bangladesh at Shahbag Intersection,^[32][33] and two of the largest book markets in the country —- Nilkhet-Babupura Hawkers Market and Aziz Supermarket.^[34] Among other markets in the area, Elephant Road features the largest shoe market in the country, and Nilkhet-Babupura the largest market for bedding accessories.

With its gardens and festivals, clubs and mansions, and since mid 19th century hotels and bars Shahbag served as a center for pleasure and leisure. The Shahbag Intersection, the core of the area is surrounded by Hotel Sheraton^[35] (formerly Hotel Intercontinental, the second multi-star hotel in Dhaka), the Dhaka Club (the oldest and largest elite club in Dhaka since 1911), National Tennis Complex, Shishu Park (the first children's entertainment theme park in Dhaka, which remains open to underprivileged children for free on weekends), Sakura (the first public bar in Dhaka), and Peacock (the first Dhaka bar with outdoor sitting). The Shahbag Intersection serves as the one of the major Mass Rapid Transit hubs of Dhaka along with Farmgate, Gulistan, Mohakhali, and Moghbazar. Center of academic, cultural and intellectual activities in Dhaka, the neighbourhood is inhabited mainly by a large student community and university employees.

The thana is a major destination for Bangladeshis for medical treatment. The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (DAB^[36]) stands at Shahbag Intersection, as well as its milestone project BIRDEM (Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders) and the BIRDEM Hospital. BIRDEM Hospital is flanked by Ibrahim Memorial Cardiac Hospital, named after Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim, founder of DAB and BIRDEM. The intersection is home to the BSMMU Hospital, while at the southern part of Shahbag lies the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

[edit] Culture

Shahbag was at the centre of cultural and political activities around the Bangla Academy area during the Language movement of 1952, which gave birth to Bangla Academy three years later. Shahbag is home to the first formal art school in Dhaka — the Dhaka Art College (now Institute of Fine Arts) founded in 1948 by Zainul Abedin as well as the Bangladesh National Museum^[37] and the National Public Library. In the 1970s, Jiraz Art Gallery opened as the first commercial art gallery in independent Bangladesh. Mazharul Islam, the pioneer of modern architecture in Bangladesh, designed the Art College as one of his early projects.

Shahbag is home to the Dhaka University Mosque and Cemetery. In the cemetery are the tombs of Kazi Nazrul Islam, the national poet, painters Zainul Abedin and Quamrul Hassan, as well as teachers killed by Pakistani forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Katabon Mosque, an important center for Muslim missionaries in Bangladesh, is located here.

Sri Anandamoyi Ma, the famous Bengal ascetic known as the Mother of Shahbag had her ashram near Ramna Kali Mandir or the Temple of Kali at Ramna around late 19th century. Her husband, Ramani Mohan Chakrabarti, was the caretaker of the gardens of Shahbag. The temple was destroyed by the Pakistani Army in the Liberation War of Bangladesh.^[38]

Syed Abdur Rahim, supervisor of the dairy farm established by Khwaja Salimullah at Paribag, was a local Muslim saint of that era. Known as the Shah Shahib of Paribag, Abdur Rahim had his khanqah (Farsi: خانگاه, meaning spiritual retreat) here, where his tomb lies today.^[39] The only Gurdwara in Dhaka lies beside Institute of Modern Languages.^[40][41]

Since 1875, the area has hosted a famous fair to celebrate the Christian New Year that revolved around agricultural and local industrial exhibitions of animals and birds. It also featured dancing girls, Jatra (a native form of folk theater), putul naach (puppet show), magic show and Bioscopes.^[18] Since 1921, the fair reserved a special day for women on Paribanu's insistence. Only during this fair ordinary citizens could enter the gardens of Shahbag, though parts of the gardens were donated as the premise for Dhaka University in 1918. In the past, Shahbag was the center for Boli Khela (wrestling) and horse racing in Dhaka.

The Basanta Utsab (Festival of Spring) happens every February 14 or the first day of Spring according to the reformed Bangladeshi Calendar. Since the festival began in the late 1960s around Shahbag, it has grown to become a major festival of Dhaka.^[42][43][44] Face painting, dressing in color yellow and its many shades, songs and fairs are typical of the festivities. It is often extended to merge with Valentine's Day.

The biggest bookfair in Bangladesh is held every February on the premises of the Bangla Academy. The only internationally recognized film festival^[45] of Bangladesh - the Short and Independent Film Festival, Bangladesh - happens every year at the National Public Library premises. Host of the film festival, Bangladesh Short Film Forum, has its office in Aziz Market.

Shahbag is the host of the Pohela Baishakh (the Bengali New Year) festival every April 14 which, happening almost exclusively in and around Shahbag, has become the biggest carnival in Dhaka.^[46][47] Dhaka started to observe the day since 1965 as protest against the Pakistani regime.^[48] The Institute of Fine Arts began the tradition of the Boishakhi Rally, while the Bangla Academy initiated Boishakhi Mela in a mojor way in modern Dhaka. Chayanaut Music School began the tradition of singing in the dawn at Ramna Batamul (Ramna Banyan tree). In 2001, a powerful bomb exploded by a suicide bomber killed 10 people, and injured 50. The Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, an Islamic militant group was blamed for the incident.^[49]

[edit] See also

• Ramna
• Dhaka University
• BUET

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

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• Anandamoyi Ma Website
• Shahbag at Banglapedia
• Flickr pictures of Shahbag

Coordinates: 23°44′N, 90°23′E