Bara Katra, located in Dhaka, is a monument of the Mughal period. This edifice was erected on the bank of the river Buriganga in 1641 by the order of Shah Shuja, the son of Emperor Shah Jahan. It was built by Abul Qasim, who was known as Mir-E-Emarat. Though Shah Shuja was supposed to live here, it was later on used as a caravanserai.
Once
known for its architectural beauty, Bara Katra today stands with its
dilapidated entrance, a relic of its former self. The gateway of Bara Katra
once had a stone plate featuring information written by Sad-ud-din Muhammad
Sherazi in the Persian language. The stone plate tells about the founder of
this caravanserai and the financial sources to manage the cost of its
maintenance. The stone plate says:
“Sultan
Shah Shuja always kept himself engrossed in charity. So, with the hope of
receiving God’s grace, Abul Qasim al-Husainia-Tabtaba built this house as a
symbol of good fortune. The palace adjoined 22 shops which would finance its
reparation cost and the arrangement for free accommodation for the travelers.
This provision would never be canceled. If it is ever canceled, the person held
responsible would have God’s wrath unleashed upon him on the day of final
judgment. This plate was written by Sad-ud-din Muhammad Sherazi.”
No comments:
Post a Comment