Architecture is a distinct medium of art. Man constructs residential buildings, offices, courts, roads, and ports for their own use. But these structures not only meet human needs, but they also express aesthetic beauty. Architecture represents the culture of a particular country. Architectural styles undergo changes over time. Different architectural structures have been built in Bangladesh since ancient times. Many new styles were added to it during the medieval and modern periods. As a result, the contemporary architecture of Bangladesh has developed a great deal.
Ancient Architecture:
Architectural relics from the ancient age have been found in Bangladesh at Mohastangarh, Shalban Vihar of Maiunamati, and Paharpur. The towns were built in ancient Bangladesh around forts. The forts had residential quarters for the king and his establishments. There were roads on the walls of the fort for the soldiers to watch the invaders and defend the capital. Trenches were built on all sides of the fort to defend it. Boats and portable bridges were used for movements over the trenches. Alongside necessary structures for living and working inside a fort, there were also religious structures. There were three types of religious structures, Stupa, Vihara, and Mandir or temple. Stupas and Viharas were Buddhist structures. The Viharas or monasteries contained small temples, stupas, water reservoirs, bathrooms, storehouses for crops, dining rooms, kitchens, etc. The Mandirs were installed for the Hindus. Its walls were ornamented with engraved stones, bricks, and terracotta plates. There were idols of gods and goddesses and platforms for puja inside the Mandirs.
Features of Shalban Vihar:
Some features of Shalban Vihar were steps and large stairways on the Darbar premises, dining space in the central rooms, idols of their gods and goddesses in all the rooms, lighting, shelves for keeping study materials, etc. There is a cross-shaped platform in the central temple of Mainamati’s Shalban Vihara. It was built according to the Greek style. This platform has survived as a relic of Buddhist architecture. There are beautiful terracotta ornamentations on the lower walls of the platforms. Sri Bhavandeva, the fourth ruler of the original Deva dynasty, built the central platform of Shalban Vihara towards the end of the 7th century or the beginning of the 8th century AD.
The Lalbagh Fort:
The Lalbagh Fort situated in old Dhaka is an incomplete Mughal palace and the fort that stands on the bank of the river Buriganga on the southwestern fringe. The Mughal Prince Muhammad Azam started its construction in 1678 when he was the Subedar of Bangla. But he could not complete its construction. His successor Shaista Khan restarted the work, but again, could not finish it. When his daughter Bibi Pari died here in 1684, he termed the fort as an ill omen.
The architecture of the Sultani Period:
Arab, Persian, and Afghan Muslims came to Bangladesh during the rule of the sultans. As a result, the Hindu and Buddhist styles got mixed with the Muslim architectural style during this period. Mosques, madrasahs, and khankas dominated the religious structures during this period. The mosques were of two types: Jami or Jumma mosques and waktia mosques. The former were bigger in size and had more than one dome on top. The latter were smaller in size and used to be built in rural areas mainly. These mosques had a single dome. The waktia mosques were not only places of prayers, they were also used as the centres for imparting religious education at the primary level as well as a place for social gatherings. The main features of other structures of the Sultani period were the use of bricks, broad walls, use of stones on walls and domes. The interior and exterior of the buildings were decorated with exquisite of different leaves and creepers on terracotta plates. Architectures of Bangladesh include Shahjadpur Jame Masjid, Muazzampur Shahi Mosque, Adina Mosque of Paguar, Chhoto Sona Masjid of Gour, etc.
Mughal architecture:
The mughal architecture of Bangladesh was influenced by the Sultani architectures as well as those of northern India. Notable architectures during this period include mosques and tombs, miners and Edgars, forts and katras, palaces, hammamkhanas, Kadam Rasul and imambara, temples, bridges, etc. The relics of Mughal architecture in Bangladesh include Shaista Khan Mosque, Atia Masjid, Shah Shuja Masjid, Lalbagh Fort, Jinjira Fort, Hajiganja Fort, Sonakanda Fort, Chhoto Katra, Bara Katra, etc.
Modern Architecture:
The modern architecture of Bangladesh developed from a blending of European and Indian construction techniques. Compared to religious structures, a higher proportion of traditional buildings followed this style. Examples include plantation dwellings, Zamindari palaces, educational buildings, court offices, hospital buildings, railway buildings, administrative complexes, etc. Modern architecture is characterized by wide stairways, open entrances and terraces, wooden spiral stairways, Roman domes, etc. The Curzon Hall, Ahsan Manzil, Tejgaon Holy Rozario Church, Sonargaon Neel-Kuthi, Puthia Palace, Natore Palace, and Dighapatiya Palace are some examples of modern architecture in Bangladesh. The national Parliament Building is located at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital city of Dhaka is also another glaring example of modern architecture. Its construction work started in 1964. The American architect Louis Kahn designed this building. The Jatiya Sangsad Complex includes the main parliament building, hostels for MPs, Ministers, and Secretaries, a guest house, and a community building. An artificial lake surrounds the four sides of the building and connects the northern and southern plazas. The whole building, therefore, looks like floating on water. It is a unique relic of modern architecture.
The Natore Palace is located at the center of Natore district town. It was constructed at the beginning of the 18th century. There is a long entrance to the palace and there are long rows of bottle-palm trees on both sides of the entrance path. Besides, the palace has a large pond, temple, and garden of flowers and fruits. Ram Jvan, the founder of the royal family of Natore had established this palace, which also served as his administrative center.
Architecture during the Pakistani Period:
Some structures were built during the Pakistani period under the supervision of foreign architects. They introduced modern architecture in Bangladesh. Different structures were built by combining Western and Islamic architectural styles like Hotel International, Teachers-Students Center of Dhaka University, Kamalapur Railway Station, Saint Joseph School, Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Baitul Mokarram Mosque, High Court Building, etc. Muzharul Islam was the most famous among the Bengali architects of that time. His architectural creations included Chittagong University, Jahangirnagar University, the Fine Arts Building of Dhaka University, Krishi Bhaban at Dhaka’s Motijheel area, etc.
Contemporary Architecture:
The contemporary architecture of Bangladesh is diverse and multifaceted. Attempts are now made to reflect the rural architectural style in an urban environment. Façade made of terracotta plaques, aluminium frame, coloured glass, clay roof tiles, and concrete can be noticed in the same building. Examples of contemporary architecture include multi-storied office buildings, residential houses, educational institutions, and structures built for sports and recreation.
Rural Architecture:
The architectural designs and ingredients applied in rural Bangladesh are quite different from those of urban architecture. Usually, it is the local builders who construct the residential dwellings in villages. They acquire building expertise through experience and make design decisions through experience and discussions. Bamboos, wood, wild grass, dry paddy plants, leaves of the date trees, tin, etc. are used as construction materials for rural architecture. Most of the demands for residential quarters in the countryside are met by these houses, built through the application of sample technology. However, influences of urban architecture are also visible in rural areas in recent times.
