Speaking at the function Dr. Hasan said that the mosques, which were built during the Sultani period in Bengal, reflect the culture of the time. When the pictures had been taken for the book seven/eight years back, Dr. Hasan said, they were more beautiful than now. "At present there are orphanages, schools and other constructions built around them, while structures like the Shait Gambuj Mosque are quite dilapidated," Dr. Hasan said.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Dr. Hasan added, "I did my thesis in 1984. I used the information but began writing a totally different book after about four years. A professional US publisher suggested that the book's information had to be reorganised. IB Tauris is my original publisher and Omni is now negotiating to publish the book more economically in Bangladesh."

Dr. Manzoorul Islam said, "This is a fairly comprehensive account of the existing mosques from the independent Sultanate of Bengal, which dates from the 14th century to the end of the 16th century. Dr. Hasan has surveyed 55 mosques with floor plans of 17 mosques, which were previously unpublished. She has approached her study from three angles.

"It is first of all a historic document. She has provided a comprehensive history of the region chronologically from the Turkish invasion of Bengal to the pre-Mughal time. Secondly, it is an architectural investigation. She has tried to understand the architectural uniqueness of the mosque and she has suggested that the mosques are remarkable because they try to assimilate some of the architectural cultural patterns of existing structures, most notably the structure of the huts (the chala structures) and the lattice, woven bamboo frames which allow the air to flow in, and enclosed courtyard like structures within the main structure. The third angle is cultural. She has tried to understand the continuity of the architecture: She has not tried to separate the Sultanate architecture from the previous Buddhist one, and the Hindu architecture that followed later," Dr. Islam added.

Dr. Islam concluded, "The end result is that you have a fascinating book which is like living history, which reaches across to you through barriers of time and space. What I found interesting was the account of not just the mosques themselves but the significance of the role they played in the lives of the people. Her approach is both historical and cultural."

Luva Naheed Chowdhury, architect and Director of Bengal Foundation, said, "Dr. Perween Hasan has helped her students feel the pulse of the life through the edifices of the time. She stressed on the curved cornice which is brought into the architecture of the Sultanate period."

Ashabur Rahman, archaeology enthusiast said, "The conquest of Bengal by the Muslims of Turkish and Afghan origin created a new stream of culture and in this book we fine buildings of the Sultani period."

Dr. Niaz Zaman was the mc at the event, which had slides to complete it.