Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Among the proud possessions of Bangladesh National Museum also figures a replica
of ‘Hussaini Dalan” that was made by a Hindu Ananda Hari Karmakar. Before its
acquisition by the museum, the replica was in the possession of Dhaka’s Nawab
family. Made of ‘Filigiri-Work in Silver’, the replica finds place in the department
of Ethnography and Decorative Arts of the museum.
Husaini Dalan is
located in Old Dhaka area and is the most famous Imambara of Bangladesh. It is widely
believed that it was erected by one Mir Murad due to claim made by James Taylor
in his account. .However, Hakim Habibur Rahman refutes it and described Nawab Nasrat Jang as its builder. The local
tradition give credit of Imambara’s reconstruction to Nawab Jasarat Khan in the
second half of the eighteenth century. Husaini Dalan stands on a high platform.
A flight of steps on the east reaches its floor. The southern exterior presents
an attractive facade. A series of columns, supporting a long beam, is flanked
by octagonal chambers in three stages. On each side the top of the octagonal
chambers is crowned with a dome. The building has kiosks at the four corners
above the roof.
The replica prepared
by Karmakar in 1905 is a perfect facsimile of the building of Hussaini Dalan. All
the main features of Husaini Dalan are profusely filigreed on the replica. Records
of the museum reveals that it was acquired in 1970.Since then it has been an
attraction among the visitors. It may be mentioned here that Bangladesh
National Museum was formally inaugurated in 1973 but it was established way
back in 1913 under the name of Dhaka Museum.(References available on request. Photo
Courtesy Google Images )
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