Ahsan Manzil (or Ahsan Manjil) was the presidential palace of
the Dhaka Nawab Family. This magnificent building is situated at Dhaka on the
banks of the Buriganga River in Bangladesh. The construction of
this palace was started in the year 1859 and was completed in 1869. To preserve
the cultural and history of the area, the palace became the Bangladesh National
Museum on 20 September
1992. Now this museum is a popular tourist destination in Dhaka
city.
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Ahsan Manzil, Pink Palace, Dhaka
Bangladesh
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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. Ahsan
Manzil is one of the most significant architectural monuments of Bangladesh. The
building has a broad front-facing the Buriganga River.
On the river side, an open spacious stairway leads right up to the second
portal and on their stands the grand triple- arched portals. There was once a
fountain in the garden in front of the stairs which does not exist today. All
along the north and the south side of the building run spacious verandahs with
an open terrace projected in the middle.
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Ahsan Manzil_Dhaka
Nabab Bari_Bangladesh
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Ahsan Manzil, an architectural treasure, is a witness to many historical
events of Bangladesh.
From the last part of the 19th century to the initial years of Pakistan, the Muslim leadership of East Bengal emerged from this palace. The nawabs of Dhaka used to conduct their court affairs here as chief
of the panchayet (village council) every day. Many anti-Congress meetings were
held here under the patronization of Nawab Khwaja Ahsanullah, a staunch
believer in Muslim identity. Almost all the Viceroys, Governors and Lieutenant
Governors of British India who visited Dhaka
spent some time at the Ahsan Manzil. Almost all political activities of Nawab
Khwaja Salimullah centered round this palace. Ahsan Manzil was the cradle of
the All India Muslim League.
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Ahsan Manzil_Dhaka
National Museum_Bangladesh
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Today
visitors to Bangladesh
have the opportunity to see the beautifully restored and preserved Ahsan
Manzil. The museum reflects its grandeur and along with that the place reflects
the activities that took place in the past.
