Tomb and mosque of Khundar Muhammad Yusuf, 1872’s Sonargaon

Tomb and mosque of Khundar Muhammad Yusuf, 1872’s Sonargaon

Tomb and mosque of Khundar Muhammad Yusuf, 1872’s Sonargaon

Photograph of the tomb and mosque of Khundar Muhammad Yusuf, at Sonargaon in Bangladesh, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by W.Brennand in 1872. The province of Dhaka was brought under Islamic rule in the 13th century, first by the Delhi Sultanate then by the independent sultans of Bengal, after which it was taken by the Mughals in 1608. Sonargaon was the capital of sultans of Bengal from the 13th century until 1608 when Islam Khan, the Mughal Governor, transferred the capital of the whole province to the nearby city of Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh. In the 18th century the city of Dhaka was eclipsed by Murshidabad under the Nawabs of Bengal and its population diminished. In 1858 all the territories held by the East India Company (including Dhaka) were brought under British rule. This is a view of a domed mosque and two tombs with curved, Bengali-style eaves, off to the left. The buildings are described in J. Wise, Notes on Sunargaon, Eastern Bengal (Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, vol. XLIII, part I, Calcutta, 1874), p. 89: '...This latter is called the dargah of Khundar Muhhamad Yusuf. It contains the tombs of the saint, of his father, and of his wife. It consists of two elongated, dome-roofed buildings, each surmounted by two pinnacles covered with or formed of gold...These tombs are destitute of any ornament inside...Close to the tombs is a modern Masjid with a 'kitabah', or inscription, dated A.H. 1112 (A.D. 1700). It was probably erected by the Pir Muhammad Yusuf...'

Iron girder bridge at Toongee [Tungi], near Dhaka, 1880’s Dhaka

Iron girder bridge at Toongee [Tungi], near Dhaka, 1880’s Dhaka

Iron girder bridge at Toongee [Tungi], near Dhaka, 1880’s Dhaka

Photograph of a bridge at Tungi in Dacca (Dhaka) taken in the 1880s, from an album 'Architectural Views of Dacca', containing 13 prints by Johnston and Hoffman. Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh, became prominent in the 17th century as a provincial capital of the Mughal empire, and was a major centre of trade, particularly in fine muslins. Its history, though largely obscured, is ancient, and it was brought under Islamic rule by the 13th century, first by the Delhi Sultanate then by the independent sultans of Bengal, after which it was taken by the Mughals in 1608. In the 18th century Dhaka was eclipsed by Murshidabad under the Nawabs of Bengal and its population diminished. As the fortunes of the Nawabs declined, the power of the East India Company became a new factor. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation in 1858 brought all the territories held by the Company (including Dhaka) under British rule. The photograph offers a view of an iron-girder bridge, spanning the River Buriganga and built shortly before this image was taken.

Suspension bridge at Dhaka, erected in 1830, 1880’s Dhaka

Suspension bridge at Dhaka, erected in 1830, 1880’s Dhaka

Suspension bridge at Dhaka, erected in 1830, 1880’s Dhaka

Photograph of Dacca (Dhaka) taken in the 1880s, from an album 'Architectural Views of Dacca', containing 13 prints by Johnston and Hoffman. Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh, became prominent in the 17th century as a provincial capital of the Mughal empire, and was a major centre of trade, particularly in fine muslins. Its history, though largely obscured, is ancient, and it was brought under Islamic rule by the 13th century, first by the Delhi Sultanate then by the independent sultans of Bengal, after which it was taken by the Mughals in 1608. In the 18th century Dhaka was eclipsed by Murshidabad under the Nawabs of Bengal and its population diminished. As the fortunes of the Nawabs declined, the power of the East India Company became a new factor. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation in 1858 brought all the territories held by the Company (including Dhaka) under British rule. This view looking along the Buriganga river towards a suspension bridge, with a church tower beyond.

Hindu Temple, 1880’s Dhaka

Hindu Temple, 1880’s Dhaka

Hindu Temple, 1880’s Dhaka

Photograph of temples at Dacca (Dhaka) taken in the 1880s, from an album 'Architectural Views of Dacca', containing 13 prints by Johnston and Hoffman. Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh, became prominent in the 17th century as a provincial capital of the Mughal empire, and was a major centre of trade, particularly in fine muslins. Its history, though largely obscured, is ancient, and it was brought under Islamic rule by the 13th century, first by the Delhi Sultanate then by the independent sultans of Bengal, after which it was taken by the Mughals in 1608. In the 18th century Dhaka was eclipsed by Murshidabad under the Nawabs of Bengal and its population diminished. As the fortunes of the Nawabs declined, the power of the East India Company became a new factor. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation in 1858 brought all the territories held by the Company (including Dhaka) under British rule. The photograph has a view of a temple tower on the banks of the River Buriganga. A corresponding temple alongside it was washed away in 1880. This temple was also nearly collapsing when the photograph was taken. Native boats may be seen on the left of the image.

Near Dhaka, 1880’s Dhaka

Near Dhaka, 1880’s Dhaka

Near Dhaka, 1880’s Dhaka

Photograph of Dacca (Dhaka) taken in the 1880s, from an album 'Architectural Views of Dacca', containing 13 prints by Johnston and Hoffman. This view looks along the Buriganga river bank towards the listing octagonal brick-built tower at the water's edge, with a local boat moored in the foreground. Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh, became prominent in the 17th century as a provincial capital of the Mughal empire, and was a major centre of trade, particularly in fine muslins. Its history, though largely obscured, is ancient, and it was brought under Islamic rule by the 13th century, first by the Delhi Sultanate then by the independent sultans of Bengal, after which it was taken by the Mughals in 1608. In the 18th century Dhaka was eclipsed by Murshidabad under the Nawabs of Bengal and its population diminished. As the fortunes of the Nawabs declined, the power of the East India Company became a new factor. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation in 1858 brought all the territories held by the Company (including Dhaka) under British rule.

Mahomed Mosque, 1880’s Dhaka

Mahomed Mosque, 1880’s Dhaka

Mahomed Mosque, 1880’s Dhaka

Photograph of a mosque at Dacca (Dhaka) taken in the 1880s, from an album 'Architectural Views of Dacca', containing 13 prints by Johnston and Hoffman. Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh, became prominent in the 17th century as a provincial capital of the Mughal empire, and was a major centre of trade, particularly in fine muslins. Its history, though largely obscured, is ancient, and it was brought under Islamic rule by the 13th century, first by the Delhi Sultanate then by the independent sultans of Bengal, after which it was taken by the Mughals in 1608. In the 18th century Dhaka was eclipsed by Murshidabad under the Nawabs of Bengal and its population diminished. As the fortunes of the Nawabs declined, the power of the East India Company became a new factor. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation in 1858 brought all the territories held by the Company (including Dhaka) under British rule. This is a view looking towards the domes of the mosque, the rest of the building largely concealed by vegetation in the foreground.

Khas Nagar Talao, 1872’s Sonargaon

Khas Nagar Talao, 1872’s Sonargaon

Khas Nagar Talao, 1872’s Sonargaon

Photograph of the Khas Nagar Talao, Sonargaon, near Dhaka in Bangladesh, Archaeological Survey of India Collections, taken by W.Brennand in 1872. The province of Dhaka was brought under Islamic rule in the 13th century, first by the Delhi Sultanate then by the independent sultans of Bengal, after which it was taken by the Mughals in 1608. Sonargaon was once the capital of Eastern Bengal from the 13th century until 1608 when Islam Khan, the Governor, transferred the capital of the whole province to the nearby city of Dhaka, now the capital of Bangladesh. In 1858 all the territories held by the East India Company (including Dhaka) were brought under British rule. Sonargaon is situated near the banks of the Meghna River, 15 miles east of Dacca. Once a thriving port and commercial centre, only the ruins of the ancient city remain; the area is buried in a dense jungle of bamboos and other trees. This is a general view of the tank at Sonargaon.