Restoring a heritage site

Craftsmen are carving out intricate designs and floral motifs on the walls, beams and ceilings of Boro Sardarbari to give it the original look before it opens to the public in March next year. 

Boro Sardarbari is one of the most significant structures at 800-plus-year-old Panam Nagar in Sonargaon of Narayanganj around 40 kilometres off the capital. The government has planned to set up a museum there, said Abu Sayeed, president of the Institute of Architects, who is in-charge of the renovation.

Constructed during the Mughal era in 1608, the building had gone through refurbishment several times before it was abandoned a few years ago as parts of it began falling apart like all other structures in Panam Nagar.

During the Mughal era, wooden beams were used, which were replaced with railway slippers as the railway era began and steel sheets were used during the Pakistan regime, said Abu Sayeed. Following the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan, the Directorate of Archaeology took over this building and turned it into a historical museum in 1980.

Now the government in association with Korean Youngone Group is working to restore the heritage building. The restoration work financed by the Korean group is expected to be complete in December at Tk 7 crore, the architect said.

Photographs of the building's walls, roofs and detailed craft works were collected at the start of the renovation to ensure that the building gets back its glorious, ancient, original look.

It is believed that the building was constructed during the regime of Musa Kha, son of Barabhuiyan Isa Kha. Many designs inside Sardarbari were made in imitation of Musa Kha gate in Sonargaon, Abu Sayeed told The Daily Star.

The right side of this building is 400 years old, whose roof was constructed with only brick chips enhancing its durability. During the regime of Islam Kha in 1608, this was called Bangalee roof.

On the second floor, the Jamindars or the Sardars who lived there built a puja mandap.

“Its structure tells us that this used to be a Hindu temple. The structure of Sardarbari speaks of different times,” Abu Sayeed said.

This building is the symbol of the warm business environment that once prevailed in the city -- in the historical past.