Rose Garden Palace
The Rose Garden Palace is a mansion and garden in Old Dhaka, Bangladesh. Built in the late 19th century, it became birthplace of the Awami League in 23 june, 1949, when East Bengali liberal and social democrats converged in Dhaka to form an alternative political force against the Muslim League in Pakistan.
The property is situated on K.M. Das Lane in Tikatully area of Old Dhaka, near the modern business district of Motijheel and near the Baldha Garden in Gopibug area of Dhaka. The mansion was built by a Hindu zamidar (landlord) Hrishikesh Das. He lived in the mansion for a decade. In 1927, he became bankrupt and sold the mansion to another zamidar Boshuruddin Sarkar of Nabinagar under Brahmanbaria district. Later the mansion was sold to a businessman by the family of Boshuruddin Sarkar after his death.
The government has revealed plans to turn the location into a museum and now in 2020, it is closed till further notice.[1]
History
The Rose Garden Palace was built by a Hindu zamindar Hrishikesh Das in the late 19th century.[2] Around that time jalsas (parties) held at Baldha Garden were an important part of the social life of the city's wealthier Hindu residents. The story goes that Hrishikesh Das, being insulted on this account by someone at one of the jalsas (parties) at Baldha Garden, and decided to create his own garden to outshine that of Baldha Garden. Here he staged jalsas of his own. The centrepiece of the garden is an elegant pavilion. However, this was not created as a residence, but rather a setting for entertainment such as musical performances (although subsequent owners did use it as a house). This extravagant lifestyle caused Hrishikesh Das to go bankrupt and consequently he was forced to sell the property.
In 1937 the Rose Garden Palace was bought by a prominent businessman Khan Bahadur Kazi Abdur Rashid of Dhaka from the family members of Late Bashiruddin Sarker under Brahmanbaria district. He renamed the building as Rashid Manzil. His son Kazi Raquib inherited and the property has been maintained for years thereafter by his surviving family, with his wife Laila Raquib being the chief caretaker in its maintenance.
The building had been renovated by its previous owners while keeping the original character fully maintained.
The government of Bangladesh bought the building for Tk 331.70 crore in a purchase announced on 9 August 2018.[3] The government has since announced plans to turn the location into a Museum.[1]
Architecture
The lodge contains on the ground floor eight apartments including a 30’-0” + 15’-0” central hall whilst the upper floor has a further five apartments including a large dance hall measuring 45’-0” + 15’-0” in the middle. All the apartments are furnished with elite mosaic, numerous colorful skylights and wall ornaments. Some of them are adorn with foliage and animal outlines in wood, colored Belgium glass and iron. An ostentatious dome is above the dance hall, and the dance circle is surrounded by cascades. The ceiling is floral patterned and embellished with green mirrors. Tall crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling. An intricately designed spiral staircase before the ballroom leads to the roof. At the back of the building to the east there is a verandah triple-arched entrance porch which leads to a staircase for the upper storey. Originally there was an ornamental fountain in the garden, the structure of which still remains. There are several classical marble statues in the garden, although the rose garden that gave the mansion its name does not exist anymore.
In popular culture
Hamiduzzaman Khan, a sculptor and painter, has illustrated a book called Rose Garden. The book contains sketches in pen-and-ink, crayon and watercolor of this landmark property. The text has been written in English by Kazi Ahmed Sajed.
Photo gallery
- From the entrance, 1967
- The mansion seen from the garden, 1967
-
- The gateway to the mansion, 1967
-
-
See also
References
- ^ a b "Plans revealed to turn Rose Garden into museum". 30 January 2019. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Rose Garden Palace". 2015-05-09. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
- ^ "Govt buying historic Rose Garden". 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- v
- t
- e
- History of Bengal
- Permanent Settlement Act of 1793 and 1888
- East Bengal State Acquisition and Tenancy Act of 1950
- Gauda Kingdom (4th century CE–626 CE)
- Pala Empire (8th century CE–12th century CE)
- Sena dynasty (1070–1230)
- Deva dynasty (12th century CE–13th century CE)
- Mallabhum (694–1947)
- Sultanate of Bengal (1342–1576)
- Mughal emperors (1576–1707)
- Nawabs of Bengal (1717–1880)
- Company rule in Bengal (1757–1858)
- British Raj (1858–1947)
- Cooch Behar State (1586–1949)
- Murshid Quli Khan (1717–1727)
- Sarfaraz Khan (1727–1727)
- Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan (1727–1739)
- Sarfaraz Khan (1739–1740)
- Alivardi Khan (1740–1756)
- Siraj ud-Daulah (1756–1757)
- Mir Jafar Ali Khan (1757–1760)
- Mir Qasim (1760–1763)
- Mir Jafar Ali Khan (1763–1765)
- Najmuddin Ali Khan (1765–1766)
- Najabat Ali Khan (1766–1770)
- Ashraf Ali Khan (1770)
- Mubarak Ali Khan (1770–1793)
- Baber Ali Khan (1793–1810)
- Ali Jah (1810–1821)
- Ahmad Ali Khan (1821–1824)
- Mubarak Ali Khan II (1824–1838)
- Mansur Ali Khan (1838–1880)
- Bhawal Estate
- Burdwan Raj
- Bohmong Circle
- Chakma Circle
- Rajas of Chandradwip
- Nawabs of Dhaka
- Nawabs of Dhanbari
- Rajas of Dighapatia
- Rajas of Dinajpur
- Chowdhuries of Dulai
- Gayen Estate of Dhanyakuria
- Khans of Gunahar
- Haturia Estate
- Nawabs of Homnabad-Pashchimgaon
- Jhargram Raj
- Kandi Raj
- Pannis of Karatia
- Kirtipasha Raj
- Lalgola Raj
- Zamindars of Mahipur
- Nawabs of Murshidabad (1882–1969)
- Majumdars of Sylhet
- Mong Circle
- Muktagacha Raj
- Nadia Raj
- Nawabs of Padamdi
- Pal family
- Nawabs of Longla
- Rajas of Puthia
- Chowdhuries of Natore
- Rajas of Natore
- Rajas of Rajshahi
- Rajas of Ramgopalpur
- Ratanpur Nawab Estate
- Zamindars of Sandwip
- Rajas of Shobhabazar
- Singranatore family
- Susanga Raj (See: Surajit Chandra Sinha)
- Bodra Zamindari (Ashok Kumar Roy Chowdhury)
- Teota Estate (See: Parbati Sankar Roy Choudhury and Raja Shyama Sankar Roy Choudhury)
- Rajas of Uttarpara
and Heirlooms
- Hazarduari Palace
- Uttara Ganabhaban
- Ahsan Manzil
- Israt Manzil Palace
- Tajhat Palace
- Natore Palace
- Bhawal Estate
- University of Dacca
- Varendra Research Society
- Varendra Research Museum
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
- Shashi Lodge
- Gole Afroz College
- Rahmat Iqbal College
- Rose Garden Palace
- Ghughudanga Palace
- Moyez Manzil Palace
- Puthia Temple Complex
- Wasif Manzil
- Alexander Castle
- Muktagacha Zamindar Bari