সোনারগাঁও | |
 .jpg)   _Kuthi_at_Mongalganj_20.jpg) From top:Goaldi Mosque,Shilpacharya Zainul Folk and Craft Museum,Panam Nagar,Panam Nagar Architecture,Neel Kuthi | |
  Shown within Dhaka division Show map of Dhaka division Sonargaon (Bangladesh) Show map of Bangladesh | |
| Location | Narayanganj District,Dhaka Division, Bangladesh |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 23°38′51″N90°35′52″E / 23.64750°N 90.59778°E /23.64750; 90.59778 |
| History | |
| Founded | Antiquity |
| Abandoned | 19th century |
Sonargaon (Bengali:সোনারগাঁও;Bengali pronunciation:[ˈʃonaɾɡãʋ];[1]lit.GoldenHamlet) is a historic city in centralBangladesh. It corresponds to theSonargaon Upazila ofNarayanganj District inDhaka Division.
Sonargaon is one of the old capitals of the historic region ofBengal and was an administrative center of eastern Bengal. It was also ariver port. Its hinterland was the center of themuslin trade in Bengal, with a large population of weavers and artisans. According toancient Greek and Roman accounts, anemporium was located in this hinterland, which archaeologists have now identified with theWari-Bateshwar ruins of theGangaridai Empire. The area was a base for theVanga,Gangaridai,Samatata,Sena, andDeva dynasties.
Sonargaon gained importance during theDelhi Sultanate. It was the capital of the sultanate ruled byFakhruddin Mubarak Shah and his sonIkhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah. It hosted a royal court andmint of theBengal Sultanate and was also the capital of the Bengal Sultanate under the reign ofGhiyasuddin Azam Shah. Sonargaon became one of the most important townships in Bengal and many immigrants settled in the area. The Sultans built mosques and tombs. It was later the seat of theBaro-Bhuyan confederacy that resisted Mughal expansion under the leadership ofIsa Khan and his sonMusa Khan. Sonargaon then became a district ofMughal Bengal. DuringBritish colonial rule, merchants built manyIndo-Saracenictownhouses in thePanam neighborhood. Its importance was eventually eclipsed by the nearbyPort of Narayanganj which was set up in 1862.
Sonargaon draws many tourists each year in Bangladesh. It hosts theBangladesh Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation, as well as various archaeological sites, Sufi shrines, Hindu temples, historic mosques and tombs.
Sonargaon is located near the old course of theBrahmaputra River. To the north of Sonargaon are theWari-Bateshwar ruins, which archaeologists have considered to be the emporium (trading colony) ofSounagoura mentioned byGreco-Roman writers.[2]The nameSonargaon originated with the ancient term ofSuvarnagrama.[3] Sonargaon was ruled byVanga andSamatata Kingdoms during antiquity. TheSena dynasty used the area as a base after they lost control of the western parts of Bengal toBakhtiar Khalji. TheDeva dynasty KingDasharathadeva shifted his capital fromBikrampur to Suvarnagrama in the middle of the 13th century.[3] Sonargaon is also one of the possible locations for the fabled land ofSuvarnabhumi that is referred in cultures across theIndian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Muslim settlers first arrived in Sonargaon circa 1281.[4] In the early 14th century, Sonargaon became part of theDelhi Sultanate whenShamsuddin Firoz Shah, Delhi's governor inGauda, conquered central Bengal.[5] Firoz Shah built amint in Sonargaon from where a large number of coins were issued.[5] Delhi's governors in Bengal often tried to assert their independence. Rebel governors often chose Sonargaon as the capital of Bengal. When Firoz Shah died in 1322, his son,Ghiyasuddin Bahadur Shah, replaced him as the ruler. In 1324, the Delhi SultanGhiyasuddin Tughlaq declared war against him and succeeded in capturing Bahadur Shah in battle. During the same year, SultanMuhammad bin Tughlaq released him and appointed him as the governor of Sonargaon.[6]
Sonargaon began to develop as a seat of Muslim learning andPersian literature. ManyPersian andPersianateTurkic immigrants settled in Sonargaon. MaulanaSharfuddin Abu Tawwama ofBukhara came to Sonargaon circa 1270 and established aSufikhanqah andmadrasa, which imparted both religious and secular education. The institutions became reputed throughout the Indian subcontinent. Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri, a celebrated Sufi scholar of Bihar, was an alumnus of Sonargaon. Tawwama's book on mysticism,Maqamat, enjoyed a strong reputation. During the administration of Roknuddin Kaikaus (1291-1301 AD), son ofNasiruddin Bughra Khan,Nam-i-Haq, a book on fiqh (jurisprudence), was written in elegant Persian poetry, in Sonargaon.[7] It is in 10 volumes and contains 180 poems. Though the authorship of this book has been ascribed to Shaikh Sharafu’d-Din Abu Tawwama, the author’s introduction testifies that the book was actually written by one of the disciples of Shaikh Sharafu’d-Din on the basis of his teachings.[7][8] TheFatwa-i-Tatarkhani was compiled at the initiative Tatar Khan, theTughluq governor of Sonargaon.[7]
The Sultanate of Sonargaon became a short-lived independent state with control over central, northeastern and southeastern Bengal. When Bahram Khan died in 1338, his armour-bearer,Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah, declared himself the independent Sultan of Sonargaon.[4] Fakhruddin sponsored several construction projects, including atrunk road and raised embankments, along with mosques and tombs.[10] Sonargaon began to conquer areas held by the eastern kingdoms of Arakan and Tripura. The army of Sonargaon conqueredChittagong in southeastern Bengal in 1340. In the west, Sonargaon competed with the neighboring city-states ofLakhnauti andSatgaon for military supremacy in Bengal. Sonargaon prevailed in naval campaigns during themonsoon. Lakhnauti prevailed in land campaigns during the dry season.[11] The fourteenth-centuryMoorish travelerIbn Battuta visited the Sonargaon Sultanate. He arrived through the port of Chittagong, from where he proceeded to the Sylhet region to meet withShah Jalal. He then proceeded to Sonargaon, the capital of the sultanate. He described Fakhruddin as "a distinguished sovereign who loved strangers, particularly the fakirs and sufis". In Sonargaon's river port, Ibn Battuta boarded aChinese junk which took him toJava.[12][10] After the death of Fakhruddin in 1349, his sonIkhtiyaruddin Ghazi Shah became the next independent ruler of Sonargaon.[13] The ruler of SatgaonShamsuddin Ilyas Shah eventually defeated Sonargaon in 1352 and established theBengal Sultanate.[14]
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The three city-states of Bengal were unified into an independent sultanate. There was a decisive break from the authority of Delhi. Sonargaon became one of the major townships in the eastern part of theIndian subcontinent. It was a strategically important river port with proximity to theBrahmaputra Valley and theBay of Bengal. The third Bengali SultanGhiyasuddin Azam Shah established a royal court in Sonargaon. The township flourished as a center for writers, jurists and lawyers. The vast amount of Persian prose and poetry produced in Sonargaon during this period has been described as the "golden age of Persian literature" in Bengal.[8] The Sultan invited the Persian poetHafez to the Bengali court in Sonargaon. The institutions founded by Abu Tawwama were maintained by his successors, including the Sufi preachers Saiyid Ibrahim Danishmand, Saiyid Arif Billah Muhammad Kamel, Saiyid Muhammad Yusuf and others.[7]
During the 15th century, the ChineseTreasure voyages included an expedition to Sonargaon. The Chinese embassies to Bengal were part of the mission ofAdmiral Zheng He. The information about this expedition comes from the book of one of its participants,Ma Huan.[1] In 1451, Ma Huan described Sonargaon as a fortifiedwalled city,[7] with a royal court, bazaars, bustling streets, water reservoirs, and a port.
During theHussain Shahi dynasty, Sonargaon was used as a base by the Sultans during campaigns againstAssam,Tripura andArakan. The Sultans launched raids into Assam and Tripura from Sonargaon.[15] The river port was vital during naval campaigns, such as during theBengal Sultanate-Kamata Kingdom War and theBengal Sultanate–Kingdom of Mrauk U War of 1512–1516.
Sonargaon hosted amint. It was one of the most important townships in the Bengal Sultanate. It was the principal administrative center of eastern Bengal, particularly theBhati region. High officials of the Bengal Sultanate were based in Sonargaon.[15]Turkic,Arab,Habesha,Persian settlers migrated to the region and became Sonargaiyas. Sonargaon also became the eastern terminus of theGrand Trunk Road, which was built bySher Shah Suri in the 16th-century.[4] The Grand Trunk Road was a majortrade route stretching from Bengal to Central Asia. The prosperity of the Bengal Sultanate was attested by European travelers, includingLudovico di Varthema,Duarte Barbosa andTomé Pires. According to travelers, Sonargaon was an important commercial center. Many of its weavers and artisans wereHindus. When the Bengal Sultanate disintegrated in the late 16th-century, Sonargaon continued to be a bastion of Bengali independence for a few decades.
Under SultanTaj Khan Karrani, the noblemanIsa Khan, who was prime minister in the Sultan's court, gained anestate covering the area of Sonargaon. TheKarrani dynasty was defeated byMughal forces in western Bengal. Isa Khan and aconfederation ofzamindars resisted Mughal expansion in eastern Bengal. The confederation is known as theBaro-Bhuyan (TwelveBhuiyans). The confederation includedBengali Muslim andBengali Hindu zamindars, many of whom hadTurkic andRajput ancestry who eventually became Sonargaiya through time. Isa Khan gradually increased his strength and he was designated as the ruler of the wholeBhati region, with the title ofMansad-e-Ala.
In theAin-i-Akbari,Abul Fazl wrote about the "fine Bengali war boats" of Isa Khan's navy.[16] In theAkbarnama, Abul Fazl stated "Isa acquired fame by his ripe judgment and deliberateness, and made the twelve zamindars of Bengal subject to himself".[17] Isa Khan used theJangalbari Fort. In 1578, the Twelve Bhuiyans defeated the Mughal viceroyKhan Jahan I under the leadership of zamindars Majlis Pratap and Majlis Dilawar, after Isa Khan was forced to retreat during a battle on theMeghna River.[18] In 1584, following an invasion byShahbaz Khan Kamboh, Isa Khan and Masum Khan Kabuli launched a successful land and naval counterattack inEgarosindur on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, which repulsed the Mughal invasion.[19] In 1597, Isa Khan's navy dealt a massive defeat to the Mughal Navy on thePadma River. The Mughals were led by viceroyMan Singh I, who lost his son in the battle. Isa Khan's navy had surrounded the Mughal fleet on four sides.[20]
In 1580, the English travelerRalph Fitch described Isa Khan's kingdom, stating "for here are so many Rivers and Lands, that they (Mughals) flee from one to another, whereby his (Akbar) horsemen cannot prevail against them. Great store of cotton cloth is made here. Sinnergan (Sonargaon) is a towne sixe leagues from Serrepore, where there is the best and finest cloth made of cotton that is in all India. The chief king of all these countries is called Isacan (Isa Khan), and he is chief of all the other kings, and is a great friend to all Christians".[21] In 1600, theJesuit Mission stated that after the defeat of the Bengal Sultanate, "Twelve princes, however, called Boyones [bhūyān] who governed twelve provinces in the late King’s name, escaped from this massacre. These united against the Mongols [sic], and hitherto, thanks to their alliance, each maintains himself in his dominions. Very rich and disposing of strong forces, they bear themselves as Kings, chiefly he of Siripur [Sripur], also called Cadaray [Kedar Rai], and he of Chandecan [RajaPratapaditya of Jessore], but most of all the Mansondolin [“Masnad-i ‘ālī,” title of Isa Khan]. The Patanes [Afghans], being scattered above, are subject to the Boyones."[22]
Isa Khan died in September 1599. His son,Musa Khan, then took control of the Bhati region. The dictionaryShabda-Ratnakari was compiled by the court poet Nathuresh during the reign of Musa Khan.[7] After the defeat of Musa Khan on 10 July 1610[23] to Mughal generalIslam Khan, Sonargaon became one of the districts ofBengal Subah. The capital of Bengal later developed in the new Mughal metropolis inDhaka.
Sonargaon was one of the districts (sarkars) of Mughal Bengal. The Mughals built several riverside fortifications near Sonargaon, as part of defences for the provincial capital Dhaka againstArakanese andPortuguese pirates. These include theHajiganj Fort andSonakanda Fort. The Mughals also built several bridges, including the Panam Bridge, Dalalpur Bridge and Panamnagar Bridge. The bridges are still in use.
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DuringBritish rule in the 19th century, the neighborhood ofPanam Nagar developed with townhouses, offices, temples, and mosques. European architecture influenced the design of the neighborhood. Panam was a wealthy textile business center, particularly for cotton fabrics. The merchants includedBengali Hindus,Marwaris andBengali Muslims.[3]
TheBangladesh Folk Arts and Crafts Foundation was established in Sonargaon by Bangladeshi painterZainul Abedin on 12 March 1975.[4] The house, originally calledBara Sardar Bari, was built in 1901. On 15 February 1984,Narayanganj subdivision was upgraded to a district by theGovernment of Bangladesh.[24]
A sub-district of Narayanganj District, formerly named Baidyabazar was renamed as Sonargaon. Due to the many threats to preservation (including flooding and vandalism), Sonargaon was placed in2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites by theWorld Monuments Fund.[25] The present-day Sonargaon is a municipality in Narayanganj District.
Sonargaon was an ancient center ofmuslin production andtextile manufacturing. Sonargaon was famous for a cotton based cloth called Khasa for its finest quality.[26] The fertile farmland around the town also generated rice exports. The English traveler Ralph Fitch described the cotton textile weaving culture of the area in the 16th-century. Weavers formed a large part of the population. In 1580, he states "The houses here, as they be in the most part of India, are very little, and covered with straw, hay and a few mats round about the walls, and the door to keep out the Tygers and the Foxes. Many of the people are very rich. Here they will eat no flesh, nor kill no beast; They Hue of Rice, milke, and fruits, they go with a little cloth before them, and all the rest of their bodies is naked. Great store of cotton cloth goeth from hence, and much rice, wherewith they serue all India,Ceylon,Pegu,Malacca".[27] Sonargaon was ariver port with access to theBay of Bengal through the mouth of the Bengali delta.[3] Maritime ships travelled between Sonargaon and southeast/west Asian countries.[3]
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At the time of the 2011 census, Sonargaon Municipality had 7,289 households a population of 32,796. 6,952 (21.20%) were under 10 years of age. Sonargaon had a literacy rate of 62.57% and a sex ratio of 951 females per 1000 males.[29]
Nearly 400 years old, it features a blend of ancient Bengali, Mughal, and colonial architecture. The main attraction is Panam Nagar, with about 52 old brick mansions.
Sonargaon Folk Art and Craft Museum: Established in 1975, this museum preserves and displays traditional Bangladeshi folk art and crafts. Visitors can explore a rich collection of textiles, pottery, woodwork, and metal crafts.
Bara Sardar Bari: Built in 1901 by Zamindar Ishan Chandra Saha, Bara Sardar Bari is a palace showcasing Mughal architecture. It now serves as part of the Sonargaon Folk Art and Craft Museum, offering insights into the zamindari history of the region.
Goaldi Mosque: This 15th-century mosque is an exquisite example of Mughal architecture, known for its intricate carvings and historical significance.
Bangladesh’s Taj Mahal: Built in 2003 by Ahsanullah Moni as a tribute to his wife, this monument is a smaller but beautiful replica of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Joynul Abedin Smriti Jadughar: A memorial dedicated to the artist Joynul Abedin, featuring his paintings, sketches, writings, and personal belongings.
Kadam Rasul Dargah: A significant religious site believed to house the footprint of the Islamic Prophet, Muhammad known for its architectural beauty.
Panch Pirer Mazar: A popular religious site in Bhagalpur village, attracting thousands of visitors annually for prayers and pilgrimage.
Baradi: A village known for its historical significance, including Esha Khan’s palace, Sonali Mosque, and Loknath Brahmachari’s ashram.[30]
Media related toSonargaon at Wikimedia Commons
Sonargaon travel guide from Wikivoyage
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