Lalon Shah Bridge in Bangladesh

Lalon Shah Bridge is a road bridge in Bangladesh over the river Padma, situated between Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna on the east, and Bheramara Upazila of Kushtia on the west. Named after early 19th century mystic poet Lalon Shah of Chhewuriya, Kushtia District, the bridge was completed in 2004.

The bridge is 1800 meter long and is the fourth longest road bridge of the country, after Jamuna Bridge, Meghna Bridge and Meghna-Gomti bridge. It provides important road connection to Mongla port of Khulna District in the south from Rajshahi division and Rangpur division, the northern part of Bangladesh.

It is situated parallel to and south (downstream) of Hardinge Bridge.

Dhakeshwari National Temple in Bangladesh

Dhakeshwari National Temple is a famous Hindu temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh and is state-owned, giving it the distinction of Bangladesh's "National Temple". The name "Dhakeshwari" means "Goddess of Dhaka". The temple is located southwest of the Salimullah Hall of Dhaka University. Since the destruction of Ramna Kali Mandir in 1971 by the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Dhakeshwari Temple has assumed status as the most important Hindu place of worship in Bangladesh.

The Dhakeshwari temple was built in the 12th century by Ballal Sen, a king of the Sena dynasty, and many say the name of the city was coined after this temple. The current style of architecture of the temple cannot be dated to that period because of numerous repairs, renovations and rebuilding in its long years of existence and its present condition does not clearly show any of its original architectural characteristics. It is considered an essential part of Dhaka's cultural heritage. Many researchers say that the temple is also one of the Shakti Peethas, where the jewel from the crown of the Goddess had fallen. Although there is not enough historical context in order to establish this as a fact, researchers were directed to this site while trying to locate the particular Shakti Peetha. Since ages, the temple has been held in great importance. The original 800-year old statue was destroyed during the War of 1971. The temple was further damaged during the riots of 1989/90.

Location and structure

Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy in Bangladesh

Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy ( September 8, 1892 - December 5, 1963, Beirut) was a Pakistani-Bengali politician and statesman who served as 5th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1956 till 1957, and a close associate of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, first Prime minister of Pakistan. After his dismissal, Suhrawardy later joined Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani's East Pakistan Awami Muslim League, which later became the Awami League of modern Bangladesh (East-Pakistan).

Rising to the leadership of the All India Muslim League in the Bengal Presidency, Suhrawardy was a leading advocate of creating a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. With Jinnah, he had advocated and played a major role for the success of Pakistan Movement. Under auspicious of Jinnah, Suhrawardy rose to prominence, and became a important ally of Jinnah. Suhrawardy was a populist leader who advocated socialism, Suhrawardy left the ruling Muslim League in 1949, shortly after the death of Jinnah, to join East Pakistan Awami Muslim League of Maulana Bhashani.

Maulana Bhashani's party became one of the leading opposition political parties in Pakistan and Suhrawardy gave all out support. He was appointed to head a coalition government as prime minister of Pakistan in 1956 but his regime was dismissed in 1957 after a year in office. General Ayub Khan had deposed the government of Suhrawardy and exiled him to Lebanon. This was again repeated by General Pervez Musharraf who deposed Prime minister Navaz Sharif and forcefully exiled him to Saudia Arabian. Later his last days, Suhrawardy was the mentor of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who first advocated autonomy for Bangladesh.

BIRDEM Hospital in Bangladesh

BIRDEM, the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) at Shahbag, Dhaka, Bangladesh is a 600-bed multidisciplinary hospital complex of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh.

It has been designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, as the only on of its kind in Asia.

Baldha Garden in Bangladesh

Baldha Garden is an enriched botanical garden which spans 3.15 acres (1.27 ha) of land located at Wari in the old part of the city of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. It has a collection of 672 species of plants. The Baldha Garden is now managed as a satellite unit of the National Botanical Garden by the Department of Forestry.

Baldha Garden is one of the oldest Botanical Gardens in Bangladesh. It was established by Narenda Narayan Chawdhury. Currently located at Wari, in the Old part of Dhaka city, the traditional Baldah Garden is a satellite unit of the National Botanical Garden situated in Mirpur. The garden is enriched with rare plant species collected from different parts of the world.

History

This Botanical Garden was established in 1909 by a private individual Narenda Narayan Chawdhury, a poet, philanthropist, and naturalist. He was the landlord of the state of Baldah, and he established this garden on his own property. Chawdhury passionately collected rare species of plants from different parts of the world until his death in 1943. After his death the further expansion of the garden came to a halt. This situation continued till 1962, when the Forestry department of the Government of East Paksitan took charge of managing the garden. After the creation of Bangladesh the garden was handed over to the new government. The Department of Forestry of Bangladesh began to work for the improvement of the garden with renewed vigor. Most of its past glory has been restored, and in addition to that two new green houses were made. And the civil amenities inside the garden were modernized.

Architectural significance

Bara Katra in Bangladesh

  

Bara Katra is a historical and architectural monument located in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is a palatial building dating to the reign of the Mughal dynasty in the Bengal region. It is situated to the south of Chawk Bazar close to the north bank of the river Buriganga.

History

The Bara Katra was built between 1644 and 1646 AD to be the official residence of Mughal prince Shah Shuja, who was the second son of emperor Shah Jahan. The prince endowed it to his diwan and the builder of the serai, Abul Qasim. According to an inscription composed by Mughal poet Sa'ad ud-Din Muhammad Shirazi.

"Abul Qasim al-Husaini at-Tabtaba as-Simnani built this edifice, endowing it with twenty-two shops, attached to it, on the rightful and lawful condition that the officials in charge of the endowment would expend the income derived from them upon the repairs of the building and upon the poor and that they should not take any rent from any deserving person alighting therein, so that the pious act may reflect upon the monarch in this world and that they should not act contrariwise, or else they would be called to account on the Day of Retribution."

Structure
The Bara Katra originally enclosed a quadrangular courtyard with 22 rooms on all of its four sides. Two gateways were erected, one each on the north and south. The ruins consist of an edifice having a river frontage. The southern wing of the structure was planned on a grand scale and was marked with an elaborate three-storeyed gate containing an octagonal central chamber. The remaining portion was two-storeyed and encased by projected octagonal towers.

Aarong outlet in Bangladesh

Aarong is a chain of retail outlets located in the major cities of Bangladesh. It is an enterprise of BRAC, the largest non-governmental development organisation in the world. In the Bangla language, "Aarong" means a village fair. At present Aarong has 10 domestic outlets (6 in Dhaka, 2 in Chittagong, 1 in Sylhet and 1 in Khulna), 1 franchise in London as well as considerable export operation in many European, North American and Asian countries. Aarong started its venture in 1978 and currently supports over 65,000 Bangladeshi artisans of whom 85 percent are women. Through a network of 647 production sub-centers and 13 production centers, Aarong has developed a platform for the underprivileged artisans across more than 2000 villages of Bangladesh, where they can utilize their indigenous skills to earn a living. Aarong works in collaboration with the Ayesha Abed Foundation, which provides the artisans the platform to exercise their expertise. Additionally, thousands of independent artisans, small entrepreneurs also earn their livelihood by marketing their craft products through Aarong . Aarong's mission is to help sustain rural craftsmanship and find a wider market for their products nationally and internationally.

Bangabandhu Bridge in Bangladesh

Bangabandhu Bridge, also called the Jamuna Multi-purpose Bridge is a bridge opened in Bangladesh in June 1998. It connects Bhuapur on the Jamuna River's east bank to Sirajganj on its west bank. It is the 11th longest bridge in the world and the longest in South Asia. It was constructed over the Jamuna River, one of the three major rivers of Bangladesh, and fifth largest in the world in terms of volumetric discharge.

The bridge established a strategic link between the eastern and western parts of Bangladesh. It generates multifarious benefits for the people and especially, promotes inter-regional trade in the country. Apart from quick movement of goods and passenger traffic by road and rail, it facilitated transmission of electricity and natural gas, and integration of telecommunication links. The bridge is located on the Asian Highway and the Trans-Asian Railway which, when fully developed, will provide uninterrupted international road and railway links from South-east Asia through Central Asia to North-west Europe.


History of construction

Bangladesh National Museum in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh National Museum, originally established on 20 March 1913, albeit under another name, and formally inaugurated on 7 August 1913, was accorded the status of the national museum of Bangladesh on 17 November 1983. It is located Shahbag, Dhaka. The museum is well organized and displays have been housed in several departments like department of ethnography and decorative art, department of history and classical art, department of natural history, and department of contemporary and world civilization. The museum also has a conservation laboratory.

Ground floor

The ground floor consists of some old guns in the entrance and the hall where the people book their tickets or assemble to hear the history of the museum. The hall leads to a grand staircase. Beside the hall there is a smaller room which also acts like the hall (it is also used by the guides to tell the visitors about the history) and a simple staircase.

1st floor
The 1st floor is divided into 22 rooms

Bangabandhu National Stadium in Bangladesh

Bangabandhu National Stadium (Formerly known as the Dhaka Stadium) is the national stadium and main sports arena in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It is located at Motijheel at the heart of the capital city, Dhaka. The stadium is variously known as Number 1 National Stadium, Dhaka Stadium etc. Its current name was given to honour Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, also known as "Banga bandhu" or "Friend of Bengal".

The Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka is the only venue in the world to have hosted an inaugural home fixture for two Test nations. India were the visitors on both occasions: in 1954-55, when Dacca was the capital of East Pakistan, and 46 years later, when Bangladesh became the tenth nation to attain Test status. Situated in the throbbing heart of Dhaka, the Bangabandhu and the nearby National Hockey Stadium are so incorporated into the daily hustle and bustle of Bangladeshi life that it is hard to tell from the outside that they are in fact sporting venues, especially given the plethora of electrical goods stalls that have sprung up all around the concourse. With a purpose-built cricket stadium being constructed on the outskirts of the city, the ground was taken out of commission at the end of the 2004-05 season, and handed over for the sole use of the Bangladesh national football team.

Bashundhara City in Bangladesh

Bashundhara City is a shopping mall located in Dhaka, Bangladesh with a rotunda architecture. Opened to the public on 6 August 2004, the mall is located at Panthapath, near Karwan Bazar, in Dhaka city. Bashundhara City is 21 stories tall, of which 8 are used for the mall and the remaining floors are used as the corporate headquarters of the Bashundhara Group.

The mall has space for 2,500 retail stores and cafeterias and also possesses a large underground gymnasium, a multiplex styled movie theater and top floor food court along with an indoor theme park. The fully air-conditioned shopping mall with rooftop gardens is considered a modern symbol of the emerging city of Dhaka.

Baitul Mukarram in Bangladesh

Baitul Mukarram (Dhaka), the National Mosque of Bangladesh. The structure resembles the Kaaba in Mecca.

Established:1960.
Architect :T Abdul Hussain Thariani.
Style: Islamic architectureCapacity40,000.
Baitul Mukarram (The Holy House) is the national mosque of Bangladesh. Located at the heart of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, the mosque was completed in 1968. The mosque has a capacity of 30,000, giving it the respectable position of being the 10th biggest mosque in the world. However the mosque is constantly getting overcrowded. This especially occurs during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which has resulted in the Bangladeshi government having to add extensions to the mosque, thus increasing the capacity to at least 40,000.

Architecture

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Bangladesh

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (March 17, 1920 – August 15, 1975) was a Bengali politician and the founding leader of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, generally considered in the country as the father of the Bangladeshi nation. He headed the Awami League, served as the first President of Bangladesh and later became its Prime Minister. He is popularly referred to as Sheikh Mujib, and with the honorary title of Bangabandhu "Friend of Bengal"). His eldest daughter Sheikh Hasina Wajed is the present leader of the Awami League and the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

A student political leader, Mujib rose in East Pakistani politics and within the ranks of the Awami League as a charismatic and forceful orator. Though he was an insurance company broker in occupation Mujib became popular for his leadership against the ethnic and institutional discrimination of Bengalis. He demanded increased provincial autonomy, and became a fierce opponent of the military rule of Ayub Khan. At the heightening of sectional tensions, Mujib outlined a six-point autonomy plan, which was seen as separatism in West Pakistan. He was tried in 1968 for allegedly conspiring with the Indian government but was not found guilty. Despite leading his party to a major victory in the 1970 elections, Mujib was not invited to form the government.

Asiatic Society of Bangladesh

Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (1952- ) a non-political, non-government and non-profit learned association registered under the Societies Act of 1860. Established in 1952, the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh is committed to the study of 'Man and Nature of Asia'. Both in spirit and organisational structure, the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh is a near kin to the asiatic society, Calcutta (est. 1784). The President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is its chief patron.

After partition of Bengal (1947), quite a number of scholars, active as members of the Asiatic Society (Calcutta), migrated to dhaka. They conceived the idea of founding a similar learned organisation in Dhaka. It may be noted that in promoting oriental studies, Asiatic Societies, though not directly linked to each other, were established in London, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo and Mumbai on the model of the original Calcutta Society. The motto of all these associations has been the study of 'Man and Nature of Asia'.
The initiative to set up a similar Society in Dhaka came from Dr Ahmad Hasan Dani, then a teacher in the Department of History at the university of dhaka and curator of Dhaka Museum.

Cox's Bazar Sea Beach in Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar is one of the most attractive tourist spots and the longest sea beach in the world (approx. 120 km long). Miles of golden sands, towering cliffs, surfing waves, rare conch shells, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes, delightful seafood--this is Cox's Bazar, the tourist capital of Bangladesh. The warm shark free waters are good for bathing and swimming & while the sandy beaches offer opportunities for sun-bathing. The beauty of the setting-sun behind the waves of the sea is simply captivating. Locally made cigars and handloom products of the tribal Rakhyne families are good buys. Every year lots of foreign & local tourist come here to spend their leisure in Cox's Bazaar.

Ahsan Manzil in Bangladesh

Ahsan Manzil was the official residential palace and seat of the Dhaka Dhaka Nawab Family. This magnificent building is situated at Kumartoli along the banks of the Buriganga River in Bangladesh. The construction of this palace was started in the year 1859 and was completed in 1869. It is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture. To preserve the cultural and history of the area, the palace became the Bangladesh National Museum on 20 September 1992.

History
Ahsan Manzil, Bangladesh National Museum, Dhaka, Bangladesh|Ahsan Manzil, Bangladesh National Museum, Dhaka, Bangladesh. During the Mughal Period, Sheikh Enayetullah’s the illustrious landlord of Jalapur Garden House was situated here. In about the year 1740, his son Sheikh Motiullah, sold the Graden House to the French traders who used it as their business center. Khwaja Alimullah, the father of Nawab Adul Ghani, purchased that French trading center building in 1830 and renovated it into his residence. Nawab Abdul Ghani built an enormous palace on the eastern side of the kuthi and named it Ahsan Manzil after his son, Khwaja Ahsanullah Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah.

Description and Construction

Hardinge Bridge in Bangladesh

Hardinge Bridge is a steel railway bridge over the river Padma located in western Bangladesh. It is named after Lord Hardinge, who was the Viceroy of India from 1910 to 1916. The bridge is 1.8 kilometers (1.1 mi) long.

Construction

Construction of the bridge began in 1910, though it was proposed at least 20 years earlier. It took almost 2 years for it to be completed, and trains started moving on it in 1915.

Brief history

The construction of a railway Bridge over the Padma was proposed by the Eastern Bengal Railway in 1889 for easier communication between Calcutta and the then Eastern Bengal and Assam and discussed for more than twenty years before it was finally sanctioned for construction in 1908. In 1902, Sir FJE Spring prepared a detailed project on the bridge. A technical committee appointed in 1908 reported that a bridge could be constructed at Sara crossing the lower Ganges between Paksey and Bheramara Upazila stations on the broad gauge railway from Khulna to Parbatipur Upazila. The construction of the bridge started in 1910 and finished in 1912. British engineer Sir Robert Gailes worked as the chief engineer of the construction. On 1 January 1915, the first trial train crossed the bridge down track and on 25 February of the same year the second trial train crossed the bridge up track. Finally on 4 March 1915 Lord Hardinge inaugurated the bridge. A total of 24,000 people were employed for constructing the bridge.