Dhaka

People yet to return after celebrating holy Eid-ul-Azha

2009-12-02T20:07:00.028+07:00

Dhanmandi lake from sat-masjid road

crescent lake

Mohakhali flyover

Mohakhali intersection

Shahbagh

BIRDEM

Shishu park

Chaatney

bata- r mor

winding up

Eve of Eid-ul-Azha 2009

2009-11-26T18:45:00.042+07:00

Sonargaon road

Panthapath

Panthakunja

Gulistan

Balaka square-Motijheel C/A

(ref:daily star)

sacrificial cow- for Eid-ul-Azha

Jackfruit tree leaves- fodder for goats & sheep

Outer stadium ground- venue of major political meetings

Railway terminal building, Dhaka

Railway bookstalls well protected!

Platforms- Dhaka Rly Stn. Kamalapur

Winter sets in softly

2009-11-21T22:07:00.038+07:00

dhanmandi lake

dhanmandi-kalabagan

kazi nazrul islam av

mouchak market

sheraton hotel

hatirjheel.. standstill

mohakhali flyover

westin hotel-gulshan 2

baridhara-gulshan lake south

cars crammed city streets

pragoti sarani

jamuna future park-shopping mall

credit flicker: R. Ashrafi

NSU Univ. basundhara, baridhara

private university in basundhara

apollo hospitals, basundhara

shantinagar

bangladesh bank, motijheel c/a

buriganga at badamtaly

Delayed posting: Nov 2009

2009-11-13T12:08:00.036+07:00

Islamia Eye Hospital, Farmgate

cabin block

Farmgate square

Institutes of Agriculture dept. Farmgate

Colony, Century Towers, Maghbazar

view of Eskaton Road

skyline, Ramna south east

Mouchak area

young snake charmers (baidani) for street collection

hmm!

Female police, Sonargaon intersection

Baitul Mukarram, main entry gate (south)

view of Masjid from gate

view of BB avenue

covered passage to masjid

BB stadium passge

north view Baitul Mukarram

Purana Paltan road, north of Baitul Mukarram

Full Monsoon yet to set!

2009-07-20T20:10:00.031+07:00

view of Gulshan lake side (Gulshan-Banani lake near road no.11)

Banani-Gulshan link bridge (on Banani Road no. 11)

Mirpur road

Mohakhali road

Mirpur road

Kazi Nazrul Av

Moghbazar road

near Banglamotor

school van

Moghbazar Rly crossing- a place of regular accident

at New Market south gate

Uttora Amir plaza with runway behind

Ashulia jetty and boat

Ferris wheels, Fantasy Kingdom, Ashulia

Fantasy Kingdom, Ashulia

Parliament bldg view from north

July 2009

2009-07-07T22:02:00.024+07:00

panthapath

elephant road

dhanmandi r/a

mirpur road

kazi nazrul av

moghbazar

banglamotor

onset of monsoon

new eskaton road

shahbag av

pilgrima progress-kakrail

lalbagh qilla park

national monument at savar

view of buriganga 2nd bridge

from buriganga river friendship bridge

naval camp

sand unloading by trawler go unabetted- buriganga 2nd bridge jinjira end

Historical Masjid at Goaldi and Langalbanh Ghat

2009-06-24T20:45:00.026+07:00

Goaldi masjid- view north west

Masjid is protected one- not open for prayer

(pic credit: sourav)

mihrab inside

outside wall- intricate decorations in terr-cotta of hanging lamp and flower

view of a nearby masjid

Abdul Hamid Mosque Goaldih (pic: W. Brennand in 1872)

Old Goaldi Mosque: (pic by W. Brennand in 1872)

Dulalpur bridge Panam nagar over which the road goes to 'Kampani ka Kothi'. Pic 1872 Bernnand

Lane in Sonargaon towards Panam (pic: 1870s by unknown photographer)

Jatrabari area

Auto-rickshaw loaded with ripe Jackfruit for market

branch of Brahmaputra river at Langalbandh. Bridge (Dhaka-Chittagong highway) seen in the background

Rajghat of Langalbandh

bathing scene of astami snan by hindu devotees at Langalbandh (pic: daily star)

Sitalakkha river, Narayanganj

Historical Mosque at Goaldih:

During the reign of Sultan Hussain Shah in 925 Hijri (1519AD) Mulla Hizabar Akbar Khan built a beautiful single dome mosque at a place Goaldi- half a mile northeast of Painam village in Sonargaon (ref: Tarikh-e-Dhaka, Tayesh). Sonargaon, 27 km east of Dhaka was the capital of muslim Sultanates of Bengal from the 13th century until Mughal emperor Akbar conqured this region. Islam Khan, Mughal Governor of Subeh Bengal, laid its capital at Dhaka. Since then Sonargaon began to lose its importance as capital and commercial centre.

The mosque has been described in J. Wise, Notes on Sunargaon, Eastern Bengal (Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta, 1874) about a hundred yards to the south of Abdul Hamid's Mosque as the oldest mosque in Sonargaon. The residents call it the 'purana' (old) Goaldih mosque. He found its Mihrab had fallen out, but had been carefully preserved in the interior. On the stone is inscribed the name of 'Ala-uddin Husain Shah, A.H. 925 (A.D. 1519).

Dr. Ahmed Hasan Dani a noted historian of the sub-continent during his visit in the 1950’s found old Goaldi mosque in ruinous state with the mihrab wall standing hidden behind clusters of trees and jungles. In his book 'Dhaka- a record of changing fortunes.' Dr. Dani also mentioned about existence of the other Mosque built in 1704AD during the period of emperor Aurangzeb in a ruinous state referred as Abdul Hamid's Mosque . This mosque was a square building with a single central dome, central black basalt stone 'mihrab', corner towers and entrances on all sides except the 'qibla' wall, a good example of the 'enclosed square type' of mosque typical of Bengal. The Mosque was decorated with arabeques patterns of ornamental terra-cotta of hanging lamp motif. Careful restoration work by the Department of Archaeology and Museums later brought this Mosque to resemble its original design. The Mosque is now a protected one and not open for prayer

Langalbandh:

On way to Mograpara from Dhaka along Dhaka-Chittagong highway, a few kilometers off Sitalakkha bridge, a street offshoots on the right that leads to a place Langalbandh (about 27 km east from Dhaka) noted as holy place to the Hindu community. On the last day of Chaittra (last month of bangla calendar - mid April) Hindu devotees gather there in large number to take holy dip in the river which is a branch of Brahmaputra. The annual bathing festival observed with attractive mela every year. Devotees dip in the river to ceremonially clean themselves of all sins.

Train Accident at Maghbazar- caught live on tape

2009-06-18T17:32:00.005+07:00

Motijheel Com. Area bldgs.

2009-06-16T00:12:00.028+07:00

Water Dev Head Office, Motijheel- tallest building of 60's

Baitul Mukarram north

Dhaka University bldgs.

Lunch time: Female garment workers go out barefoot leaving footwear in workshop- promise to return in time.

June 2009

2009-06-01T20:11:00.037+07:00

Jamuna Future Park- largest shopping mall in SA yet to be completed

NSU Univ site, basundhara, Baridhara

Gulshan-Baridhara lake

Suvastu Nazar Valley, Baridhara-Badda

Bank, Karwanbazar

Panthapath

Karwanbazar- kutcha market

Train passing along Karwanbazar-Tejgaon

heavy construction eqiupments blocking padestrian way- New Eskaton

May Random Shots..

2009-05-21T22:50:00.029+07:00

Jack fruit in Ramna park

Firmgate street shops

Firmgate traffic

Paribagh

Rampura road

New Eskaton Road

Mouchack

Dilu road, New Eskaton

pop corn seller

night view of United Hospital from Baridhara

Crescent lake area in full bloom!

2009-05-12T22:28:00.024+07:00

Parliament bldg and 'ghashful'

MP's Hostel

Bridge over lake

Bangladesh-China Friendship Hall

Bhasani Novo-theatre

May 2009: Dhaka

2009-05-07T21:10:00.029+07:00

Dhaka- sweltering heat and power shortage

2009-04-26T23:06:00.042+07:00

leakage in water pipe line- welcome relief for many! (credit: new age)

long wait for bus

playgroup school van

tribal girls in city

most sought after item..

tea stall at karwanbazar

busy in something

hill tracts lemon to quench thirst

business dull

time for card game

relaxing..

thirst..

Basundhara mall back to form..

kachukhet- cantonment area

great relief! (credit: daily star)

night in Dhaka

Bengali New Year 1416 celebration!

2009-04-14T23:44:00.047+07:00

Ramna Area:

high security

item new this year

shikha onirban in Sohrawardy-uddan

artists and photographers line up for a shot

panta, ilish, vorta with chili in malsa (earthen pot): Known as poor man's meal- is in high demand in mela by the wealthy roving groups.

Dhanmandi Area: activities

Pahela Baishakh, the largest cultural festival of the Bengalis to welcome the Bengali new year celebrated today with enthusiasm amid stepped-up security across the country.

Celebrations of Pahela Baishak started from The time of Mughal Emperor Akbar's reign. Agricultural taxes were collected according to the Arabic Hijri (hejira) lunar calendar. But, as the calendar would not coincide with the local harvest, the farmers were hard-pressed to pay taxes out of season. In order to streamline tax collection Emperor Akbar ordered a reform of the calendar. Accordingly, Fatehullah Shirazi, a renowned scholar and astronomer, formulated the Bangla year on the basis of the lunar Hijri and local Bangla calendars. The new Fasli San (agricultural year) was introduced in March 1584, but was dated from Akbar's ascension to the throne in 1556. (The Bengali world san, sal and tarikh are Arabic and Persian). Since 1988, officially Bangladesh follows a modified calculation of the luni-solar Bangla calendar prepared by Bangla Academy committee, headed by Dr Muhammad Shahidullah in 1963 to match the Gregorian system. The New Year subsequently became known as ‘Bangabdo’ or Bengali year.

It was customary to clear up all dues on the last day of previous year. Then the first day of the New Year, traders/landlords would entertain their customers and tenants with sweets. To mark the occassion there used to be fairs and festivities. In due course the occasion became part of domestic and social life, and turned into a day of jollity. In our childhood days in villages and cities, we never saw the way it is now observed in the cities.

In Bangladesh the celebrations of Pahela Baishak started in 1965 from a national consciousness by ‘Chayanat’ a noted cultural group at Ramna Park with Tagore's song welcoming the month as a symbol of upholding Bengali culture. After 1972, it became a national festival. The young communities of the city dwellers in Dhaka on Pahela Baishakh get up early in the morning to attend functions in Ramna. Young women wear white saris with red border/motif adorn with bangles and flowers and young men wear pajamas, panjabi and sandal. They move in groups enjoy eating- panta (soaked rice), Ilish (hilsha fry), vorta with chili in a malsha (earthen pan) in road mela stalls.

The Institutes of fine arts bring out alternative precession ‘mongol shobhajatra’ from its campus with huge figures and masks. Daylong cultural programmes and folk songs at different halls and parks will be held.

In old days fairs in villages were held for couple of days on such occasion where traders used to come from distant places to sale goods and handicraft etc. Many things have changed with time.

Three ethnic groups in the hill tracts also celebrate their new year in a programme known as ‘Baisabi’ in their own tradition and custom. The Tripuras celebrate 'Baisu', the Marmas 'Sangrai' and the Chakmas 'Biju' for a couple of days, marking the end of a year and the advent of another.The Bangla speaking people of West Bengal and Tripura in India and a large section of Hindu community in Bangladesh, however, celebrate new year on the day following the day based on their custom and tradition. They give more preference to 'puja' and 'haalkhata'.

Random shots: April 2009

2009-04-07T00:41:00.027+07:00

Gulshan 2

Baridhara-Gulshan lake with lot of algae

Baridhara lake south

walkway along Baridhara lake

view of US embassy from Pragoti Sarani

plenty of printed stickers seen in the footpaths (word " Sannyashi" and a red 'Trisul') pasted by unknown persons on important roads from Gulshan to Dhanmandi.

Jamuna Future Park nearing completion in Baridhara

Suvastu Nazar Valley, Pragati Sarani

Airport road at Khikhet

Concord Lake City, Khilkhet

Pink City further East

development of site for new housing complex

Baloo river near Rupganj

Banani

Historical Relics and Shrines in Mograpara Sonargaon

2009-03-31T23:25:00.066+07:00

Sitalakhkhya river- south

Bridge on Sitalakhkhya river at Narayanganj

Kachpur ghat

Madrasa

female students

Dhaka- Chittagong highway towards Sonargaon- Mograpara

female workers on construction site

Hindu pilgrims on way for a holy dip in Brahmaputra river at "Langalband"

gas station under conastruction

Masjid along highway

Museum- Sonargaon

ruins of Bara Sardar Bari, Sonargaon (from flicker)

Panam nagar- Sonargaon

Mograpara bus stand on Dhaka-Ctg highway

a school in Mograpara

old house

entry gate of Dargah- Khanqah and Madrasa

view of the Tomb complex with bangla type roof

graves of saints and their disciples

tomb of a spiritual leader

Tomb of Hazrat Syed Ibrahim Daneshmand

Mosque and Tomb of Pir Mohammad Yusuf built in 1700 AD (pic: Brennand 1872). On the left the tomb consists of two elongated, dome-roofed buildings, each surmounted by two pinnacles once covered with or formed of gold.

tomb complex and the historical Masjid

Historical Masjid and extension

another historical building on verge of collapse

remains of a madrasa and library founded by Abu Tawwamah

underground passage and rooms of Library for meditation

Tomb of Allama Sharfuddin Abu Tawwama Bukhari

Tombs of old Islamic scholars, preachers and sufis- spread in many places

near masjid and Panch Pirer Dargah

view of tombs of Panch Pir- (5 saints)

names of saints imprinted on wall by the tomb caretaker

Panch Pir Masjid (pic 1872 Brennand)

inside historical masjid of Panch Pir Dargah

outside of Panch Pirer Tomb

Panch Pir Dargah Govt. primary school

cheerful faces of the local school

Mograpara countryside- western side

old house

Khaas Nagar Talab, Sonargaon (pic: 1872 by Bernnand)

old pond and 2 ghats

outside of Tomb of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah

Tomb structure of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (died 1410 AD)

Tomb stone of Sultan of Bengal Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (also known as Kala Shah tomb)- recent pic

Tomb stone renovated during last century

Ruins of the Tomb stone of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah during late 19the century

Tomb of Qazi who held trial of the Sultan seen in the background

Once a navigable canal near the historical places

view through the central arch of a bridge over a canal in Sonargaon (pic: 1870s)

map mograpara-panam

Map of Sonargaon-Mograpara

Sonargaon-Mograpara: The area between the Sitalakhya and the Megna Rivers located about 28 km east of Dhaka on Dhaka-Chittagong highway, was once the seat of 'Deva' Dynasty until 13th century. After Muslim occupation in 14th century, Sonargaon rose to be the seat of an independent ruler under Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah. After his fall it remained the headquarters of the eastern province of Bengal under the Tughlaqs till 1338.

Sonargaon emerged as the capital of an independent Sultanate under Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah (1338-1349) and his son Ikhtiyaruddin Gazi Shah (1349-1352). Iliyas Shah, an inhabitant of Sijistan — the country to the east of Persia led a campaign from north and conquered Bengal to consolidate Iliyas Shahi Dynasty.

By the second quarter of the fourteenth century Sonargaon developed into a commercial metropolis; seafaring boats could easily reach from west Asian and Southeast Asian countries. Travellers like Ibn Batuta, Ma Huan, Fahiean and Ralf Fitch visited Sonargaon. Ibn Batuta describes Sonargaon as an important port city which had direct commercial relations with countries like China, Indonesia (Java) and the Maldives. The Chinese envoy Ma Huan found Sonargaon a great commercial metropolis.

Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (1390-1411 AD) the third sultan of the Iliyas Shahi dynasty of Bengal earned great name for his ideal character, patronage of learning and for good administration. The events of his life are so variegated that he may be compared to a prince in a fairy tale. He had a profound regard for the law. It is on record that the sultan while practicing with a bow hit the son of a widow with an arrow and caused his death. The widow appeared before the Qazi and brought a charge of murder against the sultan. Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, being summoned by the Qazi, appeared before the court like an ordinary accused person, made graceful submission to the custodian of law and satisfied the complainant by offering a suitable indemnity in accordance with the decree. When the trial was over the Qazi stood up and praised the sultan for his regard for the law. At this the sultan remarked that he would have instantly beheaded the Qazi if he was found wanting in his duty as a judge. The Qazi smilingly retorted that he would have scourged His Majesty had he not obeyed the law.

Himself a scholar and poet, Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah held literary men in great esteem. He corresponded with the famous Iranian poet Hafiz and inviting him to visit Bengal. Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah contributed a good deal to the development of Bengali literature; Shah Muhammad Sagir wrote his famous work, Yusuf-Zulekha, under his patronage.

Like his father Sikandar Shah and grandfather Iliyas Shah, Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah had great respect and reverence for the Alims and the Sufis. He paid great homage to Shaikh Muzaffar Shams Balkhi of Bihar. He gave all kinds of help to pilgrims to the holy cities of Makka and Madina. Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah is known for his friendly relations with foreign countries, sent envoys to Makka, Madina and China. This great sultan died in 814 AH/1410 AD and buried in Mograpara (see tomb pic above).

After Mughal conquest of Bengal Subehdar Islam Khan Chisti transferred the capital from Rajmahal to Dhaka in 1608 AD. The political and economic significance of Sonargaon soon began to diminish and its establishment, buildings and shrines crumbled.

It is evident from the extant archaeological remains that an extensive Muslim settlement had grown over the entire Mograpara and Goaldi region, and perhaps the Muslim capital city developed in and around Mograpara extending towards Goaldi and Baidyer Bazaar. Muslin produced in Sonargaon, especially its finest variety called khasa, had a worldwide reputation. Sheathed in greenery and encircled by serene lakes and transparent pools, Sonargaon (literally golden village) was a feast to the eye. Sea lanes from Sonargaon directly went to Java Island at one point of time. Sonargaon was not only administrative capital, but also developed in culture, art and science.

Sonargaon developed into a seat of Islamic learning under the scholar Maulana Sharfuddin Abu Tawwamah of Bokhara who came to Sonargaon (sometime between 1282 and 1287) and established there a ‘Khanqah’ and a madrasa wherein all branches of Islamic learning as well as secular sciences were taught and studied. This madrasa earned a great reputation throughout the subcontinent and attracted students from far and near. Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri, the celebrated sufi scholar of Bihar, was a product of this madrasa. The present Dargahbari in Mograpara is possibly the site of that centre of learning.

In the later period Shaikh Alaul Haq, his grandson Shaikh Badr-i-Islam and great-grandson Shaikh Zahid imparted religious and mystical teaching in Sonargaon. The khanqah and madrasa founded by Abu Tawwamah appears to have been maintained by his spiritual successors and later by the renowned saint Shah Ibrahim Danishmand and his descendants like Shah Kamel, Shaikh Muhammad Yusuf and others. Sonargaon had once been a rendezvous of distinguished sufis and fakirs. There are references to the compilation of valuable works at Sonargaon, such as the Maqamat, a unique work on Islamic mysticism (tasawwuf) by Sharfuddin Abu Tawwamah; a Persian book on fiqh entitled Nam-i-Haq, either written by Abu Tawwamah or compiled (1304)) by one of his disciples on the basis of his teachings; an early fourteenth century work on fiqh entitled Majmu-i-Khani fi Ain-al-Ma'ani by one Kamal-i-Karim; the Tafsir-i-Tatarkhani and Fatwa-i-Tatarkhani compiled at the instance of Bahram Khan alias Tatar Khan, the Tughlaq governor of Sonargaon,

On the western side of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, east of Bandar at Mograpara are the remains, such as, the Dargahbari complex with the Dargah building, Madrasa building, Fath Shah's Mosque (1484), Nahbat Khana, grave of Sharfuddin Abu Tawwamah, Tomb of Shah Ibrahim Danishmand, Tomb of Shah Kamel, Shaikh Muhammad Yusuf and Munna Shah Darwesh. The other remains of other group of spiritual saints lie further south in Damdama at Mograpara. Tomb of Ponkai Diwana at Gohatta, Panch Pir Dargah and a Mosque at Bhagalpur, Yusufganj Mosque, and Sheikh Saheb's Mosque at Darugola. Eminent historian, archeologist and professor emeritus Dr. Ahmed Dani in his book 'Dhaka-a record of changing fortunes' published in 1956 referred about 5 masonry graves of panch pir (5 saints) most noted among them was (Boro) Badr Alam. Although it is not certain who the Panch-Pirs (five Holy men) were, they were venerated in parts of Bengal particularly among poor or lower class village folk who sought asylum under their protection. There is a Mosque close to it. Thousand feet east of it is the tomb of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah believed to be the earliest Muslim monument of present Bangladesh.

The historic place Mograpara now survives only in name. Sonargaon lost its eminence with the rise of Dhaka as capital and by the second half of the nineteenth century during British period it was reported to have 'dwindled to a village' with 'dense jungle'. At present new hut-bazaars and houses have come up, there are several schools for boys and girls and a Degree college.

What remains now of a few medieval buildings, scattered in this region exists in the villages of Aminpur, Dulalpur, Goaldi, Mograpara, Sadipur and Muazzampur etc. of the Upazilla Sonargaon and Bandar. The Dhaka Chittagong highway runs through this upazilla. This highway looks like the dividing line between the medieval Sonargaon city and colonial Panam city

27 km south-east of Dhaka, a road leads off to the left of highway to Sonargaon, once seat of Nawabs of Bengal and today harbouring Bangladesh’s Folk Arts and Crafts Museum. The surviving buildings there were built during British colonial period belonged to the traders and Hindu Shahas and Poddars. Most of the Hindu merchants were Kolkata based absentee landlords who could be found here only in the autumn to celebrate the Durga-puja festival.

Mograpara falls on the right side of road. To visit Mograpara and Sonargaon Museum from Dhaka taxi/auto rickshaw service would be better. Sonargaon bus services operate from Gulistan, Saidabad and other bus stands in Dhaka. Once in Mograpara bus stand, rickshaw can be hired for the entire trip inside villages. Local rickshaw drivers know all of these places. (ref: Banglapedia/Wikipedia)

Independence Day Commemorated: Shahbagh scene afternoon

2009-03-27T00:13:00.024+07:00

Street Scene: March 09

2009-03-23T20:17:00.040+07:00

Thai Trade Fair ends

2009-03-17T01:07:00.020+07:00

Thai Trade show in Sonargaon

Doberman puppy

Lasha

Dr. Hussain's Vet Clinic, Gulshan 2

Inferno contained? Basundhara City Mall Dhaka

2009-03-13T23:42:00.025+07:00

Fire engulfs top floor of tower block, Basundhara City Mall, Panthapath, Dhaka

Helicopter rescued one person taking shelter on roof

Ever curious onlookers soon jampacked road outlets

Night view - fire contained

Fire broke out in the largest shopping mall of the city - Basundhara City Mall, Panthapath, Dhaka today at 02:30 pm. It is not known how the fire started at the top floor (18 floor) of the tower block that began to spread to floors below. Fire Brigade vehicles all over Dhaka arrived after 2 hours and fought for 7 hours to contain fire from spreading below 14th floor. They did not have mechanical means to combat fire above 10 storey from outside. It is learnt that the built-in fire fighting system of this highrise building was intelligently designed with control room, automatic fire alarm, modern fighting measures and independent evacuation system during fire, but Firemen reportedly found the water hydrants dry and locked. May be regular fire fighting drill by the concerned staff in the building could have averted the disaster. Two years ago similar incident happened in Karwanbazar BSEC building and fire brigade team had a tiring time due to lack of modern equipments.

Since this highrise structure was subjected to very high temperature for long due to fire it is now necessary to re-evaluate its condition and strength before use.

It is learnt, one member of the Basuhdhara fire team died due to black smoke suffocation and about 100 injured. Gathering of large number of curious onlookers blocking the road outlets was a great hindrance to the fire fighters and law enforcing forces.

Fire in Basundhara City Mall- Dhaka

2009-03-13T19:34:00.000+07:00

March 2009

2009-03-09T23:05:00.032+07:00

media pic

Abahani field

plenty of coconut

Rescue and Uneasy Calm!

2009-02-27T21:12:00.024+07:00

BDR Gate images- proudly announces legacy of 213 years of existence

relatives of mising officers thronged the north gate to inquire whereabouts

8 bodies found in the canal from a sewer line

wailing child of a slain officer

bereaved members

some of the unfortunates o0fficers of the tragic incident

34 bodies recovered from a 15' deep sewer manhole

Loved one

About 170 army officers working with BDR (Bangladesh Rifles), a para-military border force of 60 thousand strong, as officers are believed to have been killed by the guards on 25 feb 2009 during its annual darbar ceremony that turned out to be a great national tragedy of the country. About 5000 troopers from different sectors all over the country attended the weeklong gathering.

So far 70 bodies have been recovered and another 50 suspected buried in a mass-grave. Search still on. Slain officers include rank from Captain to Maj.Gen including the top man Director General Shakeel Ahmed. Govt. announced 3-days national mourning from today for the killed officers.

"The Vigilant Sentinels of Our National Frontier", the British had first organized the "Ramgarh Local Battalion" in 1795 by recruiting the native population. The battalion was succeeded by the Eastern Frontier Rifles, which guarded the frontier from 1891 to 1920, when it was disbanded. After partition of subcontinent border duties were assumed by the East Pakistan Rifles & finally by the BDR. Apart from its primary task of protecting the borders and smuggling the members of BDR (unlike BSF of India) have to take part in frontline military operations, as such, officers from Captain and above from Bangladesh Army are inducted in the organization.

Its members fought valiantly during the liberation war of 1971 and several members earned gallantry awards. Its total manpower at present is known to be about 60,000, organized into a central headquarters and various sectors, battalions and border outposts, mainly along the frontiers.

(pics from national dailies and media)

Mutiny Halts City Life: 25 Feb 2009

2009-02-26T02:25:00.027+07:00

BDR HQ, Peelkhana

Mutiny during a Durbar in Peelkhana on 25-02-09 at 9:00am

smoke bellowing

people off from Dhanmandi road

road in front of New Market- two municipal dustbins look clean

female workers leaving for home early

shop shutters down

people taking shelter behind trees from flying bullets

Army called in

barricade on sat-masjid road

Nilkhet crowd looking from a safe distance

unfortunates brought to emergency ward Dhaka Medical College Hospital

RAB Commandos moving

multi nozzle guns placed at different points

ready for action..!

road deserted
(some pics from the media)