52-661: Mograpara is medieval settlement in Sonargaon in present-day Bangladesh. It is believed to be the oldest Muslim settlement in Sonargaon. Mograpara was known as Rathkhola, which means chariot yard in native language, during the rule of last Hindu king of Sonargaon. Mograpara contains remnants of historic mosques and tombs which shows it was a thriving Muslim settlement. It contains the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah . The sight holds Goaldi Mosque , Yusufganj Mosque , and Dargabari complex . It
104-604: A mint in Sonargaon from where a large number of coins were issued. Delhi's governors in Bengal often tried to assert their independence. Rebel governors often chose Sonargaon as the capital of Bengal. When Firoz Shah died in 1322, his son, Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah , replaced him as ruler. In 1324, the Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq declared war against him and succeeded in capturing Bahadur Shah in battle. During
156-621: A blank or a minute symbol on the reverse side. Symbols include boat, lobster, fish in hook or scorpion, cross leaf etc. that are uncommon in contemporary coins found in the other regions of India. It is postulated that these coins were used as local currency in the Vanga Kingdom and are distinct from the coins used in Anga , found in Chandraketugarh in West Bengal , India. Wari-Bateshwar yielded
208-651: A copper dagger, high-tin Bronze and ceramic knobbed ware, Black and red ware , Northern Black Polished Ware and Black Slipped Ware. No inscription or written record was found in this site. Although stratigraphic evidence points to earlier urban settlement, radiometric dating of the artifacts places the peak active period of the Wari-Bateshwar urban center in the mid-1st millennium BC. The discovery of rouletted and knobbed ware, and stone beads of eclectic nature implies southeast Asiatic and Roman contacts through river routes. It
260-505: A large part of the population. In 1580, he states "The houses here, as they be in the most part of India, are very little, and covered with straw, hay and a few mats round about the walls, and the door to keep out the Tygers and the Foxes. Many of the people are very rich. Here they will eat no flesh, nor kill no beast; They Hue of Rice, milke, and fruits, they go with a little cloth before them, and all
312-664: A massive defeat to the Mughal Navy on the Padma River . The Mughals were led by viceroy Man Singh I , who lost his son in the battle. Isa Khan's navy had surrounded the Mughal fleet on four sides. In 1580, the English traveler Ralph Fitch described Isa Khan's kingdom, stating "for here are so many Rivers and Lands, that they (Mughals) flee from one to another, whereby his ( Akbar ) horsemen cannot prevail against them. Great store of cotton cloth
364-643: A number of newspaper articles and books describing the artifacts. Nevertheless, the site took a while to attract the attention of academics and archaeologists in Bangladesh. In 2000, a team led by Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, an archeologist from Jahangir Nagar University , started excavation in the site. The excavation revealed a 600m x 600m fortified enclosure or citadel surrounded by a 30m wide moat, with an additional 5.8 km long, 5m wide and 2–5 m high mud rampart—locally known as Asom Rajar Gorh—to its west and south west. A series of excavation events took place over
416-489: A population of 32,796. 6,952 (21.20%) were under 10 years of age. Sonargaon had a literacy rate of 62.57% and a sex ratio of 951 females per 1000 males. Nearly 400 years old, it features a blend of ancient Bengali, Mughal, and colonial architecture. The main attraction is Panam Nagar, with about 52 old brick mansions. Sonargaon Folk Art and Craft Museum: Established in 1975, this museum preserves and displays traditional Bangladeshi folk art and crafts. Visitors can explore
468-601: A rich collection of textiles, pottery, woodwork, and metal crafts. Bara Sardar Bari: Built in 1901 by Zamindar Ishan Chandra Saha, Bara Sardar Bari is a palace showcasing Mughal architecture. It now serves as part of the Sonargaon Folk Art and Craft Museum, offering insights into the zamindari history of the region. Goaldi Mosque: This 15th-century mosque is an exquisite example of Mughal architecture, known for its intricate carvings and historical significance. Bangladesh’s Taj Mahal: Built in 2003 by Ahsanullah Moni as
520-498: A stepped water-wall. The complex has a red mud-floor anointed with grey-colored clay, but the floor of the granary is made with lime-surki. This matches the chalcolithic pit-dwelling site at Inamgaon in Southern India, dated 1500–1000 BC, which also features a lime-surki floor. Artifacts found in Wari-Bateshwar include semi-precious stone beads, glass beads, a large number of punch-marked coins, iron axe and knives, copper bangles,
572-1156: A tribute to his wife, this monument is a smaller but beautiful replica of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Joynul Abedin Smriti Jadughar: A memorial dedicated to the artist Joynul Abedin, featuring his paintings, sketches, writings, and personal belongings. Kadam Rasul Dargah: A significant religious site believed to house the footprint of the Islamic Prophet, Muhammad known for its architectural beauty. Panch Pirer Mazar: A popular religious site in Bhagalpur village, attracting thousands of visitors annually for prayers and pilgrimage. Baradi: A village known for its historical significance, including Esha Khan’s palace, Sonali Mosque, and Loknath Brahmachari’s ashram. Wari-Bateshwar ruins The Wari-Bateshwar ( Bengali : উয়ারী-বটেশ্বর , Uari-Boŧeśśor ) ruins in Narsingdi , Dhaka Division , Bangladesh
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#1733093325371624-506: A very large variety of semi-precious stone bids, which is unprecedented in Indian archaeology of the period. Bead materials include various kinds of quartz—Rock Crystal, Citrine , Amethyst , Agate , Carnelian , Chalcedony , and green or red Jasper . Stratigraphic analysis shows that the layers containing signs of the vibrant bead culture were abruptly interrupted by sedimentary layers dating around 200 BCE, which implies possible displacement of
676-530: Is a densely populated area. 23°38′02″N 90°35′13″E / 23.634°N 90.587°E / 23.634; 90.587 Sonargaon Sonargaon ( Bengali : সোনারগাঁও ; Bengali pronunciation: [ˈʃonaɾɡãʋ] ; lit. Golden Hamlet ) is a historic city in central Bangladesh . It corresponds to the Sonargaon Upazila of Narayanganj District in Dhaka Division . Sonargaon
728-467: Is a municipality in Narayanganj District. Sonargaon was an ancient center of muslin production and textile manufacturing . Sonargaon was famous for a cotton based cloth called Khasa for its finest quality. The fertile farmland around the town also generated rice exports. The English traveler Ralph Fitch described the cotton textile weaving culture of the area in the 16th-century. Weavers formed
780-585: Is made here. Sinnergan (Sonargaon) is a towne sixe leagues from Serrepore, where there is the best and finest cloth made of cotton that is in all India. The chief king of all these countries is called Isacan (Isa Khan), and he is chief of all the other kings, and is a great friend to all Christians". In 1600, the Jesuit Mission stated that after the defeat of the Bengal Sultanate, "Twelve princes, however, called Boyones [bhūyān] who governed twelve provinces in
832-476: Is one of the old capitals of the historic region of Bengal and was an administrative center of eastern Bengal. It was also a river port . Its hinterland was the center of the muslin trade in Bengal , with a large population of weavers and artisans. According to ancient Greek and Roman accounts, an emporium was located in this hinterland, which archaeologists have identified with the Wari-Bateshwar ruins of
884-508: Is one of the oldest urban archaeological sites in Bangladesh. Excavation in the site unearthed a fortified urban center, paved roads and suburban dwelling. The site was primarily occupied during the Iron Age , from 400 to 100 BCE, as evidenced by the abundance of punch-marked coins and Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) artifacts. The site also reveals signs of pit dwelling , a feature typically found in chalcolithic archaeological sites in
936-486: Is postulated by Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, the leader of the first excavation team, that Wari-Bateshwar is the ancient emporium or trading post "Sounagora" mentioned by Ptolemy in Geographia . Two types of punch-marked coins were found in the site—Pre- Mauryan Janapada series regional coins (600-400 BCE) and Mauryan imperial series coins (500-200 BCE). The regional coins bear a set of four symbols on one side and either
988-729: The Gangaridai Empire . The area was a base for the Vanga , Gangaridai , Samatata , Sena , and Deva dynasties. Sonargaon gained importance during the Delhi Sultanate . It was the capital of the sultanate ruled by Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah and his son Ikhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah . It hosted a royal court and mint of the Bengal Sultanate and also the capital of the Bengal Sultanate under
1040-541: The monsoon . Lakhnauti prevailed in land campaigns during the dry season. The fourteenth-century Moorish traveler Ibn Battuta visited the Sonargaon Sultanate. He arrived through the port of Chittagong, from where he proceeded to the Sylhet region to meet with Shah Jalal . He then proceeded to Sonargaon, the capital of the sultanate. He described Fakhruddin as "a distinguished sovereign who loved strangers, particularly
1092-676: The "golden age of Persian literature" in Bengal. The Sultan invited the Persian poet Hafez to the Bengali court in Sonargaon. The institutions founded by Abu Tawwama were maintained by his successors, including the Sufi preachers Saiyid Ibrahim Danishmand, Saiyid Arif Billah Muhammad Kamel, Saiyid Muhammad Yusuf and others. During the 15th century, the Chinese Treasure voyages included an expedition to Sonargaon. The Chinese embassies to Bengal were part of
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#17330933253711144-516: The 19th century, the neighborhood of Panam Nagar developed with townhouses, offices, temples, and mosques. European architecture influenced the design of the neighborhood. Panam was a wealthy textile business center, particularly for cotton fabrics. The merchants included Bengali Hindus , Marwaris and Bengali Muslims . The Bangladesh Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation was established in Sonargaon by Bangladeshi painter Zainul Abedin on 12 March 1975. The house, originally called Bara Sardar Bari ,
1196-642: The Boyones." Isa Khan died in September 1599. His son, Musa Khan , then took control of the Bhati region. The dictionary Shabda-Ratnakari was compiled by the court poet Nathuresh during the reign of Musa Khan. After the defeat of Musa Khan on 10 July 1610 to Mughal general Islam Khan , Sonargaon became one of the districts of Bengal Subah . The capital of Bengal later developed in the new Mughal metropolis in Dhaka . Sonargaon
1248-469: The Indian sub-continent. The site sprawls across Wari and Bateshwar, two adjacent villages in the Belabo Upazila of Narsingdi district, about 17 km north-west of the confluence of the rivers Old Brahmaputra and Meghna at the lower end of Sylhet basin. Borehole records show that the site lies on the remnants of a Pleistocene fluvial terrace about 15 metre above sea level and 6-8 metre above
1300-588: The Indian subcontinent. Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri, a celebrated Sufi scholar of Bihar, was an alumnus of Sonargaon. Tawwama's book on mysticism, Maqamat , enjoyed a strong reputation. During the administration of Roknuddin Kaikaus (1291-1301 AD), son of Nasiruddin Bughra Khan , Nam-i-Haq , a book on fiqh (jurisprudence), was written in elegant Persian poetry, in Sonargaon. It is in 10 volumes and contains 180 poems. Though
1352-585: The Panam neighborhood. Its importance was eventually eclipsed by the nearby Port of Narayanganj which was set up in 1862. Sonargaon draws many tourists each year in Bangladesh. It hosts the Bangladesh Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation , as well as various archaeological sites, Sufi shrines, Hindu temples, and historic mosques and tombs. Sonargaon is located near the old course of the Brahmaputra River . To
1404-519: The Wari-Bateshwar people (and loss of bead culture) by a course change of the Old Brahmaputra River. Despite the lack of inscription or written records, symbols on the discovered artifacts shed light on the cultural elements of the Wari-Bateshwar society. The punch-marked coins bear the solar and six-armed symbols, mountain with three arches surmounted by a crescent, Nandipada or taurine symbol and various animal motifs and geometric figures. On
1456-670: The authorship of this book has been ascribed to Shaikh Sharafu’d-Din Abu Tawwama, the author’s introduction testifies that the book was actually written by one of the disciples of Shaikh Sharafu’d-Din on the basis of his teachings. The Fatwa-i-Tatarkhani was compiled at the initiative Tatar Khan, the Tughluq governor of Sonargaon. The Sultanate of Sonargaon became a short-lived independent state with control over central, northeastern and southeastern Bengal. When Bahram Khan died in 1338, his armour-bearer, Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah , declared himself
1508-431: The availability of archeological artifacts, especially silver punch-marked coins and semi-precious gemstone beads in the area. In the 1930s, Hanif Pathan , a local school teacher, started collecting these artifacts, and later inspired his son Habibulla Pathan to continue the exploration. The father-son duo created a local museum called Bateshwar Sangrahashala to store and exhibit their collection. Habibulla Pathan published
1560-648: The current river level. The sediment consists of brownish red clay with interbedded sand layers, locally knows as Madhupur clay. The main stem of the Brahmaputra River shifted back and forth between the Brahmaputra- Jamuna and the Old Brahmaputra branches through history. Around 2500 BCE, avulsion of the main channel to the Brahmaputra-Jamuna branch gave rise to discontinuous peatlands throughout Sylhet basin. The evidence of early urban settlement on
1612-498: The fakirs and sufis". In Sonargaon's river port, Ibn Battuta boarded a Chinese junk which took him to Java . After the death of Fakhruddin in 1349, his son Ikhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah became the next independent ruler of Sonargaon. The ruler of Satgaon Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah eventually defeated Sonargaon in 1352 and established the Bengal Sultanate . The three city-states of Bengal were unified into an independent sultanate. There
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1664-505: The independent Sultan of Sonargaon. Fakhruddin sponsored several construction projects, including a trunk road and raised embankments, along with mosques and tombs. Sonargaon began to conquer areas held by the eastern kingdoms of Arakan and Tripura. The army of Sonargaon conquered Chittagong in southeastern Bengal in 1340. In the west, Sonargaon competed with the neighboring city-states of Lakhnauti and Satgaon for military supremacy in Bengal. Sonargaon prevailed in naval campaigns during
1716-597: The late King’s name, escaped from this massacre. These united against the Mongols [sic], and hitherto, thanks to their alliance, each maintains himself in his dominions. Very rich and disposing of strong forces, they bear themselves as Kings, chiefly he of Siripur [Sripur], also called Cadaray [Kedar Rai], and he of Chandecan [Raja Pratapaditya of Jessore], but most of all the Mansondolin [“Masnad-i ‘ālī,” title of Isa Khan]. The Patanes [Afghans], being scattered above, are subject to
1768-568: The leadership of zamindars Majlis Pratap and Majlis Dilawar, after Isa Khan was forced to retreat during a battle on the Meghna River . In 1584, following an invasion by Shahbaz Khan Kamboh , Isa Khan and Masum Khan Kabuli launched a successful land and naval counterattack in Egarosindur on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, which repulsed the Mughal invasion. In 1597, Isa Khan's navy dealt
1820-584: The middle of the 13th century. Sonargaon is also one of the possible locations for the fabled land of Suvarnabhumi that is referred in cultures across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Muslim settlers first arrived in Sonargaon circa 1281. In the early 14th century, Sonargaon became part of the Delhi Sultanate when Shamsuddin Firoz Shah , Delhi's governor in Gauda , conquered central Bengal. Firoz Shah built
1872-604: The mission of Admiral Zheng He . The information about this expedition comes from the book of one of its participants, Ma Huan . In 1451, Ma Huan described Sonargaon as a fortified walled city , with a royal court, bazaars, bustling streets, water reservoirs, and a port. During the Hussain Shahi dynasty , Sonargaon was used as a base by the Sultans during campaigns against Assam , Tripura and Arakan . The Sultans launched raids into Assam and Tripura from Sonargaon. The river port
1924-438: The next two decades that marked 48 archeological sites in the vicinity of the citadel. These suburban structures feature brick-built dwelling units, and a 160 m section of a street paved with lime-mortar and potshards. In 2004, a 2.60 m x 2.20 m x 0.52 pit-dwelling complex was unearthed to the east of the urban center. The complex houses a pit, a hearth, a granary with a circumference of 272 cm and depth of 74 cm, and
1976-468: The north of Sonargaon are the Wari-Bateshwar ruins , which archaeologists have considered to be the emporium (trading colony) of Sounagoura mentioned by Greco-Roman writers. The name Sonargaon originated with the ancient term of Suvarnagrama . Sonargaon was ruled by Vanga and Samatata Kingdoms during antiquity. The Sena dynasty used the area as a base. The Deva dynasty King Dasharathadeva shifted his capital from Bikrampur to Suvarnagrama in
2028-421: The other hand, Nandipada and Swastika symbols are found on stone querns. These symbols indicate the presence of "Hinduism" in the Wari-Bateshwar society. Archaeobotanical study of carbonized seed and seed fragments reveals the predominance of rice agriculture. The subspecies cultivated was japonica rather than Indica , the more dominant cultivar in contemporary South India. Other crops included barley, oat,
2080-484: The peatlands at Wari-Bateshwar was found in stratigraphic layers dated ~1100 BCE. Human occupation continued for nearly a millennium until ~200 BCE, when the channel shifted back to the Old Brahmaputra branch. The resultant flooding possibly led to the abandonment of the Wari-Bateshwar urban center around 100 BCE. Eventually the 1762 Arakan earthquake again caused the main channel to shift to the Brahmaputra-Jamuna branch. Locals from Wari-Bateshwar have long been aware of
2132-485: The region and became Sonargaiyas. Sonargaon also became the eastern terminus of the Grand Trunk Road , which was built by Sher Shah Suri in the 16th-century. The Grand Trunk Road was a major trade route stretching from Bengal to Central Asia. The prosperity of the Bengal Sultanate was attested by European travelers, including Ludovico di Varthema , Duarte Barbosa and Tomé Pires . According to travelers, Sonargaon
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2184-513: The reign of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah . Sonargaon became one of the most important townships in Bengal. Many immigrants settled in the area. The Sultans built mosques and tombs. It was later the seat of the Baro-Bhuyan confederacy that resisted Mughal expansion under the leadership of Isa Khan and his son Musa Khan . Sonargaon then became a district of Mughal Bengal . During British colonial rule , merchants built many Indo-Saracenic townhouses in
2236-466: The rest of their bodies is naked. Great store of cotton cloth goeth from hence, and much rice, wherewith they serue all India, Ceylon , Pegu , Malacca ". Sonargaon was a river port with access to the Bay of Bengal through the mouth of the Bengali delta. Maritime ships travelled between Sonargaon and southeast/west Asian countries. At the time of the 2011 census, Sonargaon Municipality had 7,289 households
2288-535: The same year, Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq released him and appointed him as the governor of Sonargaon. Sonargaon began to develop as a seat of Muslim learning and Persian literature . Many Persian and Persianate Turkic immigrants settled in Sonargaon. Maulana Sharfuddin Abu Tawwama of Bukhara came to Sonargaon circa 1270 and established a Sufi khanqah and madrasa , which imparted both religious and secular education. The institutions became reputed throughout
2340-581: Was a decisive break from the authority of Delhi. Sonargaon became one of the major townships in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent . It was a strategically important river port with proximity to the Brahmaputra Valley and the Bay of Bengal . The third Bengali Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah established a royal court in Sonargaon. The township flourished as a center for writers, jurists and lawyers. The vast amount of Persian prose and poetry produced in Sonargaon during this period has been described as
2392-460: Was a famous Islamic learning center in the 13th century when Mawlana Sharfuddin Abu Tawwama operated an Islamic seminary here. The sight holds the ruins of a treasury and music halls which indicate it might be an administrative headquarters of Muslim rulers. Mograpara is today a busy village on the edges of Dhaka-Chittagong Highway and is located in Mugra Para Union in Sonargaon Upazila . It
2444-455: Was an important commercial center. Many of its weavers and artisans were Hindus . When the Bengal Sultanate disintegrated in the late 16th-century, Sonargaon continued to be a bastion of Bengali independence for a few decades. Under Sultan Taj Khan Karrani , the nobleman Isa Khan , who was prime minister in the Sultan's court, gained an estate covering the area of Sonargaon. The Karrani dynasty
2496-546: Was built in 1901. On 15 February 1984, Narayanganj subdivision was upgraded to a district by the Government of Bangladesh . A sub-district of Narayanganj District, formerly named Baidyabazar was renamed as Sonargaon. Due to the many threats to preservation (including flooding and vandalism), Sonargaon was placed in 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites by the World Monuments Fund . The present-day Sonargaon
2548-429: Was defeated by Mughal forces in western Bengal. Isa Khan and a confederation of zamindars resisted Mughal expansion in eastern Bengal. The confederation is known as the Baro-Bhuyan (Twelve Bhuiyans ). The confederation included Bengali Muslim and Bengali Hindu zamindars, many of whom had Turkic and Rajput ancestry who eventually became Sonargaiya through time. Isa Khan gradually increased his strength and he
2600-681: Was designated as the ruler of the whole Bhati region , with the title of Mansad-e-Ala . In the Ain-i-Akbari , Abul Fazl wrote about the "fine Bengali war boats" of Isa Khan's navy. In the Akbarnama , Abul Fazl stated "Isa acquired fame by his ripe judgment and deliberateness, and made the twelve zamindars of Bengal subject to himself". Isa Khan used the Jangalbari Fort . In 1578, the Twelve Bhuiyans defeated Mughal viceroy Khan Jahan I under
2652-550: Was one of the districts ( sarkars ) of Mughal Bengal. The Mughals built several riverside fortifications near Sonargaon, as part of defences for the provincial capital Dhaka against Arakanese and Portuguese pirates. These include the Hajiganj Fort and Sonakanda Fort . The Mughals also built several bridges, including the Panam Bridge, Dalalpur Bridge and Panamnagar Bridge. The bridges are still in use. During British rule in
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#17330933253712704-661: Was vital during naval campaigns, such as during the Bengal Sultanate-Kamata Kingdom War and the Bengal Sultanate–Kingdom of Mrauk U War of 1512–1516 . Sonragaon hosted a mint . It was one of the most important townships in the Bengal Sultanate. It was the principal administrative center of eastern Bengal, particularly the Bhati region. High officials of the Bengal Sultanate were based in Sonargaon. Turkic , Arab , Habesha , Persian settlers migrated to
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