The Bangabhaban (Bengali: বঙ্গভবন)(House of Bangladesh) is the official residence of the President of Bangladesh, the head of state of Bangladesh. Located in the capital Dhaka, the palace was originally the temporary official residence of the British Viceroy of India. From 1947 to 1971, it was the residence of the Governor of East Pakistan. Bangla (বাংলা, IPA: ) or Bengali is an Indo-Aryan language of East South Asia, evolved from Sanskrit and Prakrit. ... This page lists Presidents of Bangladesh. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bangla: ঢাকা Ḍhākā), population 12,560,000[1] (2005 UN projection for statistical metropolitan area), is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. ... The quintessential medieval European palace: Palais de la Cité, in Paris, the royal palace of France. ... The Governor-General of India (or Governor-General and Viceroy of India) was the head of the British administration in India. ... Are you kidding?, this is solid truth here, nothing escapes the eyes of Gov!!!, not even. ... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ...

History

During the reign of the sultanate of Bengal, on the site of Bangabhaban stood the establishment of Hazrat Shahjalal Dakhini, a Sufi saint of Dhaka. The saint and his followers were killed by the agents of the sultan and buried there. The place soon became famous as a mazhar (mausoleum) for the devotees of the saint. There is a building called Manuk House within the Bangabhaban compound. It is conjectured that it belonged to an Armenian zamindar named Manuk during British Raj. Nawab Khwaja Abdul Ghani of Dhaka bought the place from Manuk and built a bungalow there, which he named as Dilkusha Garden. A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic monarch ruling under the terms of shariah. ... Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in the Bengali language, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ... Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ... Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bangla: ঢাকা Ḍhākā), population 12,560,000[1] (2005 UN projection for statistical metropolitan area), is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. ... The mazhar is a large, heavy tambourine used in Arabic music. ... Zamindar, also known as Zemindar, Zamindari, or the Zamindari System (Persian: زمیندار) were employed by the Mughals to collect taxes from peasants. ... The British Empire at its zenith in 1919. ...

With the partition of Bengal in 1905, the government of East Bengal and Assam bought the real estate and constructed a palatial house to serve as temporary residence for the Viceroy of India and used for him until 1911. From 1911 to 1947, the palace was called the Governor House, and served as the temporary residence of the governor of Bengal. Following the partition of India and the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, the palace became the residence of the governor of East Pakistan. The building was severely damaged by a storm in 1961; substantial reconstruction was completed by 1964. Partition of Bengal, 1905 was made on 16 October 1905 by then Indian vice roy Lord Curzon. ... East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly included the modern state of Bangladesh. ... Assam   (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur. ... The Governor-General of India (or Governor-General and Viceroy of India) was the head of the British administration in India. ... Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in the Bengali language, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ... Britains holdings on the Indian subcontinent were granted independence in 1947 and 1948, becoming four new independent states: India, Burma (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and Pakistan (including East Pakistan, modern-day Bangladesh). ... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ...

Following the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Governor House was renamed Bangabhaban on January 12, 1972. On that date, Justice Abu Sayeed Chowdhury became the first constitutional president of Bangladesh and took the palace as his official residence. The palace has served as the residence of constitutional presidents as well as military rulers such as Ziaur Rahman and Hossain Mohammad Ershad. Combatants Mukti Bahini India Pakistan Commanders • General M A G Osmani • General Jagjit Singh Aurora General A. A. K. Niazi Strength India: 500,000+ Mukti Bahini: 100,000[1][2] Pakistan Army: 365,000 Paramilitary: 280,000[1] Casualties India: 1,426 KIA 3,611 Wounded (Official) Mukti Bahini: NA... January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Abu Saiyid Chowdhury (31 January 1921, Nagbari, Bengal - 1 August 1987, London, England), was the presedent of Bangladesh 12 January 1972 - 24 December 1973. ... Ziaur Rahman (Bangla: জিয়াউর রহমান) (January 19, 1936 – May 30, 1981) was Bangladeshs President. ... Hossain Mohammad Ershad (born 01 February 1930) was the military dictator of Bangladesh from 1982 until 1990. ...

Status

One of the most important symbols of Bangladesh's government, the Bangabhaban holds a status akin to the White House in the United States and the Rashtrapati Bhavan in India. Maintained amidst extensive ceremony, the palace is an important historical landmark and the centre of media and tourist attraction. Special public ceremonies are held during Independence Day and Victory Day. The Bangladeshi president resides and works in the palace, and frequently holds meetings, conferences and state dinners for Bangladeshi politicians, intellectuals and visiting foreign heads of state. The traditions and pomp of the palace are a symbolic indication of the presidency's ceremonial superiority to other public and political institutions. North façade of the White House, seen from Pennsylvania Avenue. ... Immediately in front of Rashtrapati Bhavan is the Jaipur Column, topped by a star. ... March 26 is celebrated as the Independence Day in Bangladesh. ... December 16 is celebrated as the Victory day in Bangladesh. ...

Structure

The Bangabhaban is largely based on Victorian architecture that typify many buildings of the British-era in Dhaka. With the reconstruction between 1961 and 1964, many elements of Islamic architecture and Bengali styles were incorporated. The palace has high boundary walls on all four sides. The main building is a three-storeyed palatial complex, around which stands extensive greenery and tree cover. The floorspace of the ground floor is 6,700 square metres. The president's residence is on the north-east corner, comprising two storeys of two suites along with five well-furnished spacious bedrooms. Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ... The Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his wife, represents the pinnacle of Mughal Islamic architecture in India and is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. ...

The president's office, the office of the civil and military secretaries and other presidential officials, and separate rooms for audience with local and foreign visitors are also located in the ground floor. In addition, there is a cabinet room, banquet hall, darbar hall (court), state dining hall, a small auditorium and a lounge for local visitors. In addition to the president's residence, there are five rooms for officials, a control room and a studio in the first floor. In the second floor, there are four suites for foreign heads of state and government.

The Bangabhaban has an open compound of 47 acres of land. The security office, post office, bank, canteen, tailoring shop, a three-domed mosque and barracks of the president's guard regiment are located in the vicinity of the main gate of the Bangabhaban. The residential quarters for officers and staff of the President's office are located in three outlying areas of Bangabhaban. There are also two bungalows one for the military secretary and the other for the assistant military secretary. The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ...

References

• Banglapedia article
• 100 years of Bangabhaban
• 100 years of Bangabhaban Book

See also

• President of Bangladesh
• Politics of Bangladesh
• History of Bangladesh
• East Pakistan
• History of Bengal
• British India