Uttara Ganabhaban on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Uttara Ganabhaban ( bn, উত্তরা গণভবন, Uttora Gonobhobon, Northern People's House) is an 18th-century (1734) royal palace also known as Dighapatia Palace ( bn, দিঘাপতিয়া রাজবাড়ী, Dighapotiya Rajbari) as it was formerly the seat of the Dighapatia Raj, an aristocratic landed estate in the East Bengal of India. It is a fine example of a
There has been a house on the site since the early 18th century, when the
দিঘাপতিয়া রাজবাড়ি সামনের দিকে পাশ থেকে.jpg, Side view of Uttara Ganabhaban
দিঘাপতিয়া রাজবাড়ির সামনের কামান.jpg, Historic cannon outside Ganabhaban
অন্দর মহলের আঙিনায় অবস্থিত মূর্তি ১.jpg, Statue in courtyard
নারী মূর্তি ৪.jpg, Statue in courtyard
Dighapatia Rajbari Garden Tub.jpg, Decorative urn in Ganabhaban garden
দিঘাপতিয়া রাজবাড়ি মন্ত্রিসভা.jpg, Ministerial conference chamber
নাটোর গণভবন ৮.jpg, Bust of a former Raja
Uttara Gonobhavan.jpg, Renovation work at Uttara Ganabhaban, 1975
jomidar
A zamindar ( Hindustani: Devanagari: , ; Persian: , ) in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semiautonomous ruler of a province. The term itself came into use during the reign of Mughals and later the British had begun using it a ...
bari (country house
An English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a town house. This allowed them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these peopl ...
). It was built by Raja Doyaram who was the Dewan (minister) of Rani Bhavanee. It has a round clock on its front gate with a large bell and a clock room. The clock was imported from Italy. It also has a beautiful garden full of various foreign trees and Italian marble stone statues of women. It is located near Natore town in North Bengal
North Bengal ( bn, উত্তরবঙ্গ/উত্তর বাংলা) is a term used for the north-western part of Bangladesh and northern part of West Bengal. The Bangladesh part denotes the Rajshahi Division and Rangpur Division. Gen ...
. It serves as the principal residence of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister in the northern part of the country. It has been used as a ceremonial site for receiving foreign ambassadors.
History
There has been a house on the site since the early 18th century, when the Nawab of Bengal
The Nawab of Bengal ( bn, বাংলার নবাব) was the hereditary ruler of Bengal Subah in Mughal India. In the early 18th-century, the Nawab of Bengal was the ''de facto'' independent ruler of the three regions of Bengal, Bihar, ...
rewarded Dayaram Roy for suppressing a rebellion. Roy was awarded the title of Jagirdar and given the zamindari of vast tracts of land in Jessore, Rajshahi, Bogra and Mymensingh. When the British Empire enforced the permanent settlement in Bengal, the Roys were recognised as landed Maharajas. They were avid followers of European influence, fashion, art, and culture. Their palace was developed on the outskirts of Natore in the 19th century. The town of Natore served as the headquarters of Rajshahi Division in the Bengal Presidency, and thus was an important administrative centre. Following Partition in 1947, the estate was formally abolished during major land reforms in East Bengal.
On 24 July 1967, it was designated as a gubernatorial residence by Abdul Monem Khan
Abdul Monem Khan (28 July 1899 – 13 October 1971) was a Pakistani politician who was the longest serving governor of East Pakistan during 1962–1969.
Early life and education
Khan was born in Humayunpur village of Bajitpur Upazila, Kishor ...
, the Governor of East Pakistan. The palace was used by President Ayub Khan
Ayub Khan is a compound masculine name; Ayub is the Arabic version of the name of the Biblical figure Job, while Khan or Khaan is taken from the title used first by the Mongol rulers and then, in particular, their Islamic and Persian-influenced s ...
as a retreat when Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan as its eastern wing. After the independence of Bangladesh Independence of Bangladesh was declared on 26 March 1971, celebrated as Independence Day, from Pakistan. The Independence Day of Bangladesh is celebrated on 26 March when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the Independence of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh ...
, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the Bangladeshi republic, declared the palace as his official residence in northern Bangladesh on 9 February 1972. It has since been used by successive Bangladeshi heads of government for holding cabinet, political and diplomatic meetings outside the capital.
Uttara Ganabhaban Museum
Uttara Ganabhaban Museum is located in Uttara Ganabhaban of Natore district. The museum was established on March 9, 2018. At least one hundred items of historical interest have been found in the archives at Uttara Ganobhaban. Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam inaugurated the museum.Gallery
See also
* Chequers Court * List of archaeological sites in BangladeshReferences