National mosque Baitul Mukarram

Baitul Mukarram (Arabic: بيت المكرّم‎; Bengali: বায়তুল মুকাররম; The Holy House) is the national mosque of Bangladesh. Located at the center 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.



The mosque has several modern architectural features whilst at the same time it preserves the traditional principles of Mughal architecture which has for some time been dominant in the Indian sub-continant.The mosque has several modern architectural features whilst at the same time it preserves the traditional principles of Mughal architecture which has for some time been dominant in the Indian sub-continant.The mosque is on a very high platform. The Baitul Mukarram Mosque’s building is eight storied and 99 feet high from the ground level. According to the original plan, the main entrance of the mosque was to be on the eastern side. The 'shaan' on the east is 29,000 square feet with ablution space on its south and north sides.Two patios (roofless inner courtyard) ensure that enough light and air enter the prayer hall of Baitul Mukarram Mosque. The mehrab of the hall is rectangular instead of semi-circular. Excessive ornamentation is avoided throughout the mosque, since minimizing ornamentation is typical of modern architecture.

Tourist spot Golden temple

The Buddha Dhatu Jadi, a Thervada Buddhist temple located in Balaghata in Banderban is the largest Buddhist temple of Bangladesh. Set atop a 60m hill, this temple popularly known as The Golden Temple exhibits unique Arakanese Architecture (South-East Asia style) and houses Lord Buddha's dhatu (material remains of a holy person) and the second largest statue of Lord Buddha in Bangladesh. In Buddhism, it is believed that the worship of the dhatu offers calmness and joy in heart. In Mahaparinibbana Sutta, it is mentioned that before his passing away, the Buddha himself had instructed as to how his corporeal relics should be treated after his cremation and The Golden Temple as per the instructions has the dhatu housed beneath the four sculptures of Lord Buddha. The dhatu was gifted to Venerable U Pannya Jota Thera in 1994 by the Government of Myanmar. The famous monk, a former Senior Assistant Judge initiated the temple's construction in 1995 and since it's inauguration in 2000 has attracted pilgrims and travellers from all over the world. The Buddha Dhatu Jadi is a part of the Buddhist Circuit Tour promoted by the SASEC (South Asia Sub regional Economic Cooperation) Tourism Development Project.

National Monument Shaheed Minar

Located near the Dhaka Medical College in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the national monument known asShaheed Minar, was established in memory of those who were killed during the 1952 Bengali Language Movement demonstrations.  Two statues are placed at the entrance of the monument.

The Bengali Language Movement was formed as a political effort to advocate the recognition of the Bengali language as one of Pakistan’s official languages. At that time Bangladesh was East Pakistan and the Government of Pakistan had declared Urdu to be the sole national language, which the Bengali-speaking majority in the area objected to.Defying the ban, students of the University of Dhaka, along with other political activists, organized a protest to take place on 21 February 1952.

 Police opened fire on the protestors, resulting in dozens of deaths.Bangladeshi sculptor, Hamidur Rahman, designed and built a replacement monument, which stood until the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The monument was destroyed during the infamous "Operation Searchlight", in which the Pakistan Army attempted to curb the Bengali nationalist movement of East Pakistan, resulting in many deaths. However, following the granting of independence to Bangladesh the monument was rebuilt, and today serves as an important center of cultural activities in the city of Dhaka. The Language Movement martyrs are remembered at the Shaheed Minar every year.

Shaheed Minar is of such importance to the people of Bangladesh, that permanent replicas of the monument have been built in other countries where large Bangladeshi communities have settled. A replica monument is situated in the Altab Ali Park in the Tower Hamlets of East London and another is found in the Westwood neighborhood of Oldham. These replicas, and the original Shaheed Minar, serve as a reminder of those who made a stand to ensure that the Bangla language be given due recognition.

The Grand Architecture of Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban

Located in the city of Dhaka, the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh, Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, stands out as an architectural masterpiece surrounded by water and beautifully landscaped gardens. Considered to be the largest legislative complex in the world, it is home to all of Bangladesh’s parliamentary activity. It is also a popular tourist attraction, which is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, including the residences for the members of parliament and layout of the lawns and lake, was created by gifted American architect Louis I. Khan. Construction was started by the Government of Pakistan in 1961 and the building was earmarked for the federal legislature of East and West Pakistan.The architect’s key design philosophy was to represent Bangladeshi culture and heritage, while at the same time optimizing the use of space. The exterior of the building is striking in its simplicity, with huge walls deeply recessed by porticoes and large openings of regular geometric shapes. 



The main building, which is at the center of the complex, is divided into three parts – the Main Plaza, South Plaza and Presidential Plaza. An artificial lake surrounds three sides of the main building of Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, extending to the Members of Parliament hostel complex. This skillful use of water to portray the riverine beauty of Bangladesh adds to the aesthetic value of the site.The Parliament Chamber, which can seat up to 354 members during parliamentary sessions, forms the key part of the Main Plaza. The Parliament Chamber has been designed to make optimal use of natural daylight, which is reflected from the surrounding walls and octagonal drum into the chamber.The entrance to the Main Building and the Main Building itself is limited to authorized staff and Members of Parliament.This is a popular leisure area in Dhaka, with joggers and skaters enjoying the pathways through the gardens.

Visitors to the bustling capital city of Bangladesh should make a point of visiting Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, an architectural marvel set in tranquil surroundings.

Sonargaon – The Ancient Capital of Bengal

Sonargaon was the capital of the ancient kingdom ruled by Isa Khan of Bengal. Bengal is now divided into West Bengal, which is a state in India and Eastern Bengal, which is the nation of Bangladesh. Today, old Sonargaon is home to some of the oldest buildings in Bangladesh.

Old Sonargaon can be found near Narayanganj and Dhaka, cities in Bangladesh, and is considered one of the first and oldest capitals of Bengal. Sonargaon was known as “The City of Panam” and was a focal part of the renowned Deva Dynasty until the thirteenth century. Mainly middle or upper class people inhabited Sonargaon during that time period. This subsidiary position that Sonargaon had now taken, lasted until the arrival of the Mughals. The Mughal Empire originated in India and was first founded in 1526 by Babur, a Turco-Persian leader. The imperial Mughal viceroys ruled Bengal, and thus Sonargaon, for nearly a century before Bangladesh was founded in 1608.Today, many people still visit the historic city of Sonargaon. 

They are attracted by its immense beauty and by the ruins of buildings and relics that date back to the era of Bengal. The Goaldia Mosque is situated in the Goaldi village and is a wonderful example of an ancient Sonargaon building. For those interested in historical and archaeological relics, which have been unearthed from Sonargaon, the Jainal Abedin Museum is a good place to visit. You can still see the intact shrines of Shah Abdul Alia and Panjpirs, and the Tomb of Sultan Ghias ud Din. If you travel just out of Sonargaon, into the countryside, you will see an example of a Moghul Palace and an old museum. These two buildings are located on beautiful grounds with lots of birds, trees and plants, a pond and a number of sheltered walks.

Old Sonargaon is a wonderful city to visit, with so much to offer visitors if history andculture is what they enjoy.

Bangladesh’s Sparkling Star Mosque

In a city well known for its numerous mosques, the Star Mosque (Tara Masjid) stands out as a sparkling jewel in the Armanitola area in the older part of the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Although the mosque has no inscription relating to the date of construction, it is known that the mosque was erected by the son of a prominent landowner (zaminder), Mirza Golam Pir who died in 1860.The original Mughal architectural style mosque was a three-domed oblong structure with three mihrabs (prayer areas facing Mecca) in alignment with the three doorways of the mosque, with the central mihrab being larger than those flanking it.



 The prayer chamber was covered by three domes, with the central dome being taller and larger than the other two. Unlike the mosque as it stands today, there was very little in the way of decoration of the original building.The Star Mosque gets its name from the fact that it is predominantly decorated with stars. The white marble domes are decorated with hundreds of blue stars that shine in the sunlight. Throughout the mosque the walls, columns, floors and ceilings are decorated with mosaics of flowers in vases, crescents, Arabic calligraphic writing and hundreds of stars, mostly made from small chips of Chinaware crockery and pieces of glass. This unusual and beautiful form of mosaic work is known as “Chini Tikri”.In the hustle and bustle of the busy city of Dhaka, the serenely beautiful Star Mosque stands out as a symbol of Islam, the dominant religion of Bangladesh.

Magnificent Ahsan Manzil

Ahsan Manzil (Bengali: আহসান মঞ্জিল, Ahsan Monjil) was the official residential palace and seat of the Dhaka Nawab Family. This magnificent building is situated at Kumartoli along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka, 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 bIn mughal period, there was a garden house of Sheikh Enayet Ullah, the landlord of Jamalpur porgona (district), in this place. Sheikh Enayet Ullah was a very charming person. ecame the Bangladesh National Museum on 20 September 1992.




Ahsan Manzil is one of the most significant architectural monuments of Bangladesh. The building structure was established on a raised platform of 1 meter, the two-storied palace measures 125.4m by 28.75m. The height of the ground floor is 5 meters and the height of the first floor 5.8 meters. The thickness of the walls of the palace is about 0.78 meters. There are porticos of 5 meters height on the northern and southeThe construction of the famous dome of the Ahsan Mazil, which is at the center of the palace, took a lot tedious planning. The square room on the ground floor was built with a round shape and brickworks were done around the corners. To give the room an octagonal shape, squinches were given around the roof corners. The eight corners of the octagon was slanted gradually to make the dome look like the bud of a lotus ( kumud kali). The peak of this dome is 27.13 m above the ground. rn sides of the palace. The building has a broad front-facing the Buriganga River.