Lalbagh Fort
Lalbagh Fort, previously known as Fort Aurangzeb, is an incomplete Mughal fortress, standing at the Buriganga River on the southwestern part of Dhaka. Its construction was commenced in 1678 by Prince Muhammad Azam during his 15-month long vice-royalty of Bengal, but before the work could complete, he was recalled by Aurangzeb. His successor, Shaista Khan, did not complete the work, though he stayed in Dhaka up to 1688. His daughter Iran Dukht, famously knon as Pari Bibi (Angel Lady) died here in 1684 and this led him to consider the fort to be ominous.
Lalbagh Fort is also the witness of the revolt of the native soldiers against the British during the Great Rebellion of 1857. As in the Red Fort in India, they were defeated by the force led by the East India Company. They and the soldiers who fled from Meerat were hanged to death at the Victoria Park. In 1858 the declaration of Queen Victoria of taking over the administrative control of India from the Company was read out at the Victoria Park, later renamed Bahadur Shah Park after the name of the last Mughal Emperor who led that greatest rebellion against then British Empire.
Layout of fort:
The fort was long considered to be a combination of three buildings:
- The Mosque
- The tomb of Pari Bibi
- The Diwan-i-Aam, comprising of two gateways and a portion of the partly damaged fortification wall.
Recent excavations carried out by the Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh, however, they have revealed the existence of other structures, and it is now possible to have a more or less complete picture of the fort. In the present fort area of 18 acres (73,000 m²), excavations have revealed the remains of either 26 or 27 structures, with elaborate arrangements for water supply, sewerage, roof gardens, and fountains. Renovation work by the Archaeology Department has now put Lalbagh Fort in a much-improved shape, and it has now become an interesting spot for tourists and visitors.
Mughals are no longer in the world, but visiting the places where they were, like Lalbagh Fort, reminds you of the might and grand they had, they lived in and they enjoyed. Visiting Lalbagh Fort will give you glimpse of that feeling.
