Fight for Bogra's historic soul
A town removed from its history has lost its soul. With the surprise sale of the over 150-year-old Nawab Palace in Bogra last Friday, despite longstanding efforts by social activists to secure its preservation, Bogra's heritage is threatened.
THE HISTORY OF THE NAWAB PALACE
Within the walls of the palace is the history of a family risen to prominence as zamindar landlords based in Bogra's Manikpur who went on, as Nawabs, to exert substantial local and national influence.
It's a history of interesting characters: when Tohurunessa, the daughter of zamindar Shobdel Ali first learnt of the premature death of her brother, one wonders if the news didn't weigh heavily. It'd been the brother who administered the landholdings. With his demise that responsibility fell to her. Hardly a usual role for a nineteenth century woman; yet one she assumed until her death.
Thereafter husband Syed Abdus Sobhan Chowdhury, the son of a zamindar from Tangail's Deluar, took control. He established an enviable reputation as a progressive who promoted education, transport and social welfare. On 20 March 1894, for his beneficent contributions to society, the British conferred the title of Nawab.
To serve as his palace, Nawab Sobhan purchased the then 3.75 acre property on the Karatoa River's bank from one Mr. Abot, a British indigo industrialist.
In due course the Nawab's daughter Altafunessa married the zamindar of Dhanbari in Tangail, and their only son Altaf Ali Chowdhury took charge of the estate as Nawab Ali, following his grandfather's death.
Interestingly, a claim on the estate was pursued by one Habibar Rahman Chowdhury who alleged he was also the son of Nawab Sobhan, born of a second wife, a Jew converted to Islam named Mozelle Cohen. But when the case reached Calcutta's High Court in 1919 the inheritance claim was dismissed.
Nawab Ali's son, Mohammad Ali, was born in 1909. More renowned as a diplomat than a politician, he became Pakistan's third Prime Minister in 1953. As Prime Minister he sought to resolve the Kashmir dispute and enjoyed warm relations with Jawaharlal Nehru. He initiated high level contact with China and is credited with aligning Pakistan more closely with the United States.
Ali also developed the “Bogra formula” for a bicameral parliament in which all five provinces could have an equal voice. The formula was never implemented. In 1954 with military support the assembly was dissolved, Ali's Prime Ministerial term done.
Ali had four children: sons Syed Hammad Ali and Syed Hamde Ali with his first wife Hamida Banu; and a son and a daughter, Syed Mahmud Ali and Mahamuda Ali, with his second Lebanese wife Aliya. After his death in 1963 the ex-Prime Minister was buried in the palace grounds.
THE PALACE SOLD LAST FRIDAY
According to sub-register of Bogra's land registry, S.M. Shohel Rana, the palace sale was registered unusually, on the weekly holiday in Dhaka, to be put into effect on Sunday 17 April 2016.
The now 1.55 acres were sold for Tk 27.45 crore to three Bogra businessmen: the president of Bogra's chamber of commerce Masudur Rahman Milon, its vice-president Shafiqul Islam Juwel and former vice-president Abdul Gafur, while an adjacent plot was sold to a building company for apartment construction.
Shafiqul Islam Juwel states there are no legal issues connected to the sale. But the land was sold by brothers Syed Hammad Ali and Syed Hamde Ali without informing Mohammad Ali's other children. Sale arrangements were kept under wraps by the registry and even the district administration wasn't informed.
From the second half of last year the movement to protect the property has grown. According to Toufique Hasan Moyna, local president of the Shommillito Shangskritik Jote, when news arrived on Sunday of the secretive sale many locals were shocked. “The cultural affairs ministry assured us the property would be saved,” he says.
Indeed when Mohammad Ali's youngest son Mahmud Ali visited Bogra from Canada in January he held a press briefing to rally against selling the land.
Protesting the sale, organisation Shoketon Nagorik Shomaj submitted a memorandum at 5 p.m. on Monday to the district commissioner in Bogra. The deputy commissioner, Md. Ashraf Uddin, says the land can still be preserved with direction from relevant government authorities.
Bogra's regional director of the archaeology department Nahid Sultana notes that a proposal has been sent to higher authorities seeking declaration of the palace as an archaeological site.
It's not the first time palace lands have been sold. A few years after the inauguration of the museum and amusement park on palace grounds in 1998, 63 decimals were sold to a housing company, while large shopping centres were constructed on northern portions.
Around the world, cities and towns take care to preserve their heritage. When even a flashy new city like Dubai prides itself on the fishing village displays recreated in its museum, the importance of such efforts is undeniable. Landmarks like the Nawab's Palace bring to Bogra self-identity, are a key to the town's soul.
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