Lesser known Imambaras of Bangladesh

Entrance of Mir Yakub Imambara in Dhaka 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Hussaini Dalan is undoubtedly the best known and well-maintained Imambara of Bangladesh. It was also in news following terrorist attack on ‘Ashura’ procession taken out from its holy precincts in October 2015.Since most of the oldest Muharram ceremonies are solemnized in and around Hussaini Dalan in Dhaka; the other Imambaras of Bangladesh rarely feature in media. Hence, the azadar world remains unknown to them. Even non-Imami communities are unaware of the existence of others Imambaras of Bangladesh. While searching for Muharram ceremonies in Bangladesh, the blogger came to know about as many as 16 other Imambaras in Dhaka itself. 

One of them is on Hussaini Dalan road itself and known as Imambara Mir Yakub. There are two Imambaras in Shia Goli (Lane)   itself with the name Al Najaf and Suba Saheb. In Armani Tola is located Bechram Dewri Imambara. The name suggests its construction by a Hindu. Two Imambaras derive their names from women Azadars. One of them is called as Shirin Begum Ka Imambara and located in Shakumia Goli. The other is situated in Bakshi Bazar and known as Bibi Zahran Ka Imambara. One comes across the names of three other leading Azadars of their time from the names of Imambaras built by them. Imambara Nawab Chuttan Saheb exists in Satrauza area while the one named after Mirza Kazim Sahib is on Nizamuddin road. Imambara Marhoom Abbas Mirza sahib is in Kana Goli. The oldest among other Imambaras is in Farashganj locality and popular as Bibi Rauza. It was reportedly built even before the construction of Hussaini Dalan. Bangladeshis firmly believe that the soul of Bibi Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad, wife of Maula-e-Kaynat Hazrat Ali and mother of Imam Hasan and Hussain, rests in shrine at Farashganj. They attribute the arrival of her soul to Dhaka in view of the harsh treatment meted out to her after the death of her father. The story has been passing from one generation to the other till date in oral traditions and quite popular among the devotees. The other sites for mourning the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain are in Chalk Bazar, Purana Paltan, Mohammadpur, Polash Nagar, Shirazi House and Maghbazar areas of old Dhaka.

Beyond Dhaka, Jessore, Thakurgaon,Khulna, Sylhet, Chattagram, Ccomilla also has Imambaras dating back to Nawabi and colonial era. A prominent Nauhakhwan of Dhaka Syed Azam Hossain has listed the Imambaras of Bangladesh on a website but not been able to give many details about their construction or the builders. He has not done it deliberately, for there is surely dearth of related material. Even Syed Muhammad Taifur(1875-1972), author, antiquarian and  historian, has not discussed about Imambaras in his famous book titled ‘Old Dhaka’.  

References:

1-azadari-bangladesh.weebly.com

2-Blog Lonely Traveler

3-Photo Courtesy -Hussainidalan Com.