Friday, November 30, 2007

Some old Sketches and Pics of Dhaka City


Ruined 'Boro Kutra' ( large caravanserai) built in1664 - drawn by de fabeck-fredrick william alexander in 1863.

Nimtoli Deuri- ruined gateway at Dhaka sketched by de fabeck-fredrick william alexander in1863.

Ruined mosque at Dhaka (Khan Md Mridha Masjid in Lalbagh) - drawn by de fabeck fredrick william alexander in 1863






Husainy Dalan & Muharram Procession: Above is the sketch of Main Imambara of Shia Muslim community erected by Syed Mir Murad during the Governorship of Shah Shuja. The original building may have been a small structure, expanded to its present form in later times. From the first to the tenth day of Muharram, the Husainy Dalan becomes the chief attraction of the city. Mourners, including Sunni Muslims, assemble there, listen to sermons and join in passion plays crying 'Ya Husain, Ya Husain'. On the ashura (tenth day), a great procession parades through the main streets of the city to a place in the western part of the city symbolically called ‘Karbala’. (pic: City Corp museum)

Artist's impression of gathering near Eid-gah, Dhanmondi

Demonstration by 'Gora Paltan' (British troops) at Dhaka in early 19th century

'Ruins of Tongi Bridge' by Charles D'Oyly in 1825

Ruined remains of bridge near Tanti-bazar by D'Oyly in 1814

'Ruined mosque in the suburb of Dhaka' by Charles D'Oyly in 1825

'Ruined mosque on Mogh-bazar Road' by D'Oyly in 1827

'Ruined Small Kutra with enclosed tomb' sketched by Charles D'oyly in 1817.

Ruined 'Part of interior of Dhaka' by D'Oyly in 1814

'Ruined Great Kutra' sketched by D'oyly in 1823

'Ruined north gateway of the Great Kutra' by D'Oyly in 1816

south west view of ruined 'Bastion of Lalbagh Fort' by D'Oyly in 1816

'Paugla Pool, with part of Dacca in the Extreme Distance'- drawn by D'Oyly in 1817

'Part of Dacca from the Douillac Nulla' (Dolai Canal)- drawn by D'Oyly in 1826

Ruined 'Mosque on Buriganga branch' by D'oyly in 1814 (Saat Masjid, Mirpur)

'Ruined Syaff Khan Mosque' by Charles D'oyly in 1914

Armenian Church, built in 1781.

Dhakeswari Mandir - this original features changed due to repeated renovation

Mansion of JP Wise, an influential Zaminder and Indigo-planter, facing the Buriganga river. Presently it is the center of Bulbul Lalit Kala Kendra. Wiseghat of Dhaka has been named after him. There were two other British dignitaries known by the name ‘Wise’ - Dr. T. Wise, the Principal of Dhaka College and Dr. James Wise, Civil Surgeon of Dhaka.

Mitford Hospital: First native hospital of Dhaka built in 1803 from public fund with capacity for 40 patients. Robert Mitford, first British Collector of Dhaka, a bachelor himself, made a will to donate his property for development of this hospital. With further money added from Govt. the hospital was built in 1858 at the present site to accomodate about 100 beds. Construction of hospital was done by M/S Barn & Co.


Chawkbazar: Picture of 1908. An area about 200 yds square was the main business center of Dhaka, established by the Mughals, adjacent to the main fort (present site of Dhaka central jail). Murshid Quli Khan named it Badshahi Bazar.


Citizens waiting at Islampur road to welcome Sir Fuller, Lt. Governor of the province of East Bengal and Assam. (Pic: Fritz Kapp, 1905)

View of Lalbagh Qilla (Fort) early 20th century. Prince Azam, son of Emperor Aurangzeb, Governor of Bengal, originally started its construction in 1678 and named it Qilla Aurangabad. It remained incomplete. The barracks in the foreground built during British rule are quarters for Lalbagh police line.









Eight sketches of Dhaka river front of late 19th century


Old huge tool with sharp edge made of special steel are used by the ‘Shankharis’ (Artisan working with conch shell) of 'Shankhari Bazar', for cutting Conch Shell (above pic) to make bangles etc.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

amazing pics of old days!

Anonymous said...

Priceless pictures - I have never seen many of these before. I would love to know where I can find electronic copies of some of these (even for a price) - this would be excellent to enlarge and frame.

Rehan
http://bangladeshweb.net

Ershad Ahmed said...

These pictures are in Dhaka City Corporation Museum framed in glass, already discoloured and worn out a bit. I don't think Dhaka City Corp have electronic copies of it.

Unknown said...

Hi Mister Ershad,

First, i would like to thank you very much. I comme almost everyday to see your new pictures.

I would like to know if it is still possible to buy somme shell Bangles in Dhaka ? We arrive in Bangladesh at the end of the year for 2 fantastic weeks i'm sure.
Thank you for answer. Marie

Ershad Ahmed said...

Hi Marie,
You will get plenty in 'Shankhari bazar' area in the old part of city.

Anonymous said...

Dear Sir
Thanks for such priceless efforts. 9 am interested about youth cultures regarding sexuality(specially about the evolution of sex indnStry in Dhaka for my PhD study. Do you have any picture on this topic(that might include Jatra,brothels,sex workers or clients etc. Moreover any picture on youthfashion(speciallymale fashion willhighly be appreciated.
0nce again thanks-
lmtiaz
Amsterddam
isaikh@fmg.uva.nl

Shireen said...

wow what pictures! Would love to visit Dhaka Musuems.

Shell bangles!

Shireen said...

amazing sketches.

I remember how we loved to watch the Moharram processions.

Anonymous said...

Mr Ershad

your effort is priceless. The nation should be thankfull to you for such an extraordinary effort. Such work would aware us of our history. Please keep the great work going.

Thanks

Anonymous said...

Citizens waiting at Islampur road to welcome Sir Fuller, Lt. Governor of the province of East Bengal and Assam. (Pic: Fritz Kapp, 1905)


hey.. werd u get this pic? my dad is a vintage photo historian and this pic is from his collection. as in his is the original and ONLY pic. so wer did u get this? u realize there are copyright laws right???

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. anonymous,

Sorry, you haven't mentioned name of your father- so called vintage photo historian- who possesses such rare photo in original.

Referred pictures are hung in the library walls of Dhaka City Corporation and plenty seen in books on Dhaka. I am sure your father/forefathers didn't not buy rights from original photographer Fritz Kapp in 1905 from their office in Calcutta/Bombay/London.

Please update your knowlege on copywrite of pictures and printed matters and the period of validity.

Thanks

Shaheed
UK

Anonymous said...

Dear All,
I am very much eager to see some very old photos of Dhaka city during the 18th century, different parts of the city.
If you have any link, pls email me the link to,
kuptola@yahoo.com

Many many thanks in advance.
Kind regards,
Tamal

Franck said...

Dear Mr. Ahmed, I really enjoy your website and all the pictures of the new and old Dhaka. I lived for 9 years in Bangladesh. First in the late seventies/early eighties then in the mid-eighties and finally in the second half of the nineties. I was back in Dhaka 2001 but for ten years I haven't been there and I see through your nice pictures that Dhaka has changed a lot. In the early eighties I lived in the vicker's house by the Armenian Church and it took only 20 minutes by car to Gulshan. Those where the days :-)

Ershad Ahmed said...

Dear Franck Rasmussen, Thanks for your comments and memories of yesteryear. Hope you will visit here once again soon. Thanks for visiting my site.

Riyadh said...

thank you for your brilliant job.
I'm an Ex-student of Dhaka Govt.Muslim High School,Dhaka-1100.
If you can please post some speech and old picture of Dhaka Govt. Muslim High School.

Unknown said...

I do feel proud to born like a land of Dhaka with a long glorious history behind.

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