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There’s a reason why certain premises are marked as monumental. Some buildings have even century-long history. As new structures replaces the old, it’s important to keep track of the ones that are culturally significant. With so many landmarks, it’s hard to choose the best ones in terms of architectural splendor. Here’s a few that made it into our list of famous buildings in Dhaka.

National Parliament House of Bangladesh

The Parliament House remains one of the best landmarks in Dhaka
The Parliament House remains one of the best landmarks in Dhaka

Standing on approximately 200 acres of land, the parliament house is one of the biggest in the world. Located at Sher-E-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka, the construction started in 1961 and the year of completion was 1982. Louis Kahn was the architect of the project. Unfortunately, when the projection was approximately three-quarters completed, he passed away. Later on, the project was carried out by David Wisdom. Also known as Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban, this structure was given the title of one of the most prominent buildings of the twentieth century. In 1989, the assembly building also received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

Baitul Mukarram

At any given hour, you will never find this mosque empty
At any given hour, you will never find this mosque empty

Dhaka is home to an alarming number of mosques, so it’s no surprise that we will be including one or two of them in this list! Other than being the national mosque of Bangladesh, Baitul Mukarram is known as the 10th biggest mosque in the world. Hence, that makes it easily one of the famous buildings in Dhaka. With a total of eight stories, the mosque has the ability to host 40,000 people. The architectural style holds a hint of traditional elements of Mughal architecture. If it isn’t obvious,  the design of Kabaah was the inspiration behind the outer cube shape. The proposal for the construction of the mosque was presented in 1959 and the mosque was completed in 1968. 

Ahsan Manzil

A century later, the 'pink palace' is one of the popular and historical buildings in Dhaka
A century later, the ‘pink palace’ is one of the popular and historical buildings in Dhaka

One of the most famous buildings in Dhaka was once the home of the Nawab family. Situated at Kumartuli, the construction of the palace started in 1859 and the year of completion was in 1872. The design of this building is a description of European style with a mix of Indian elements. Back then, Zamindars liked to incorporate European styled architecture as a means of displaying their status, power and wealth. Because of over congestion and population growth, it is difficult to imagine how Ahsan Manzil was a thing of beauty back then. Over time, the site endured a lot of reconstructions and developments due to natural disasters. Ultimately, the government later turned it into a museum in order to preserve it and commemorate its significance as a cultural center of the city. Visit one of the popular and historical buildings in Dhaka today and make a day trip out of it!

Bara Katra

Visit one of the famous buildings in Dhaka and make a day trip out of it
Visit one of the famous buildings in Dhaka and make a day trip out of it

Bara Katra was the official residence of Mughal Prince Shah Shuja. It happens to be one of the oldest buildings in Old Dhaka, making it rich in history. Mughal architecture was the inspiration behind the structure. It also possesses the traditional patterns of Central Asia’s caravanserai. Like many other historical monuments, Bara Katra was famous for its striking features. Unfortunately, over time its condition deteriorated due to negligence and a lack of care. The Bangladeshi government tried to intervene and take charge in order to preserve its history but the current owners are still unwilling to let go of the palace.

Bait-Ur Rouf

Bait Ur Rouf is famous for its unique architecture
Bait Ur Rouf is famous for its unique architecture (Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Rajesh Vora)

This mosque is easily one of the best landmarks in Dhaka. Sultanate mosque architecture was the inspiration behind this architectural icon. Bait Ur Rouf stands out in every way possible; starting from not having any conventional features of mosque such as domes and minarets to having almost no furniture. This is one of the reasons why it captured a lot of unexpected attention within a short period of time. In a 

Along with its unique form, the mosque has a story behind it. The brainchild behind this building, architect Marina Tabassum, made something out of an empty space only because her grandmother Sufia Khatun donated the land on which now stands one of the best landmarks in Dhaka. It doesn’t happen often that a professional female architect designs a mosque in a country where women rarely pray in public but being an architect in the family, she couldn’t resist taking on the project herself. In 2016, Marina Tabassum won the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Bait Ur Rouf.

What did you think of our list of famous buildings in Dhaka? Let us know in the comment section below!

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