Preserving heritage from the Bengal Sultanate

One mosque from the bygone Bengal Sultanate still stands in Habiganj and is in urgent need of restoration. The Shankar Pasha Mosque, a single-domed, one-story brick structure, sits atop a mound on the northern bank of a large pond. With six octagonal turrets, a verandah on the east, and a mihrab projecting westward, the mosque showcases architectural elegance from centuries past. Its prayer chamber features three doorways on three sides, with wall panels adorned with reliefs of pomegranate trees. A slate stone inscription over one entrance proclaims the name of the ruling sultan. Built during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah in the late 1400s, the mosque reflects influences from the homelands of Muslim colonists who settled in Bengal, reminiscent of small, covered mosques in ancient Iran and Central Asia.

Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah, of Iranian descent and formerly Syed Hussain Sharif Makhi, ascended to the throne in 1494 and reigned for 25 years. A stone inscription in Sylhet marks the northeast boundary of his kingdom. Rural folklore links the original Syed family of Habiganj in marriage to this sultan. The clan traces its roots to Sipahsalar Syed Nasiruddin (Rahmatullah alaih), a Baghdad-born general who fled after Mongol ruler Hülegü Khan's conquest in 1258. Joining the Delhi imperial army, he later became armed forces chief under Bengal Sultan Shamsuddin Firuz Shah. In 1303, he conquered Sylhet alongside the sultan's nephew Sikandar Khan Ghazi and the great Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Jalal (R).

After conquering Sylhet, Syed Nasiruddin (R) led an army to the principality of Taraf (modern Habiganj), ruled by King Achak Narayan. Following the king's flight to Tripura, he became the region's administrator, introducing Islam, clearing forests, and improving rice cultivation. His family continued to serve as local administrators until 1581. It is plausible that they contributed to the construction of Shankar Pasha Mosque, which remains in use and evokes nostalgia for their descendants.

As the mosque falls under the Bangladesh Archaeology Department, private restoration is legally restricted. I call upon Advisor Mostafa Sarwar Farooki, Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Md. Mofidur Rahman, and Director General Sabina Alam to prioritise the mosque's restoration. Many Syed family members, both in Bangladesh and abroad, are willing to fund the project if it proceeds with transparency. Preserving this historic mosque is not just a matter of family legacy but a national and cultural imperative.

Tamim Choudhury

Washington, DC