The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Nimtali Deuri, the last remaining gateway to the now-extinct 18th century Nimtali Palace, is now in a tumbledown state due to the lack of necessary steps to preserve it.

The Deuri, which means gateway, is quite 'fragile' now and it needs immediate restoration to preserve the glorious past of the 400-year-old city, said the experts.

During a visit to the Mughal-era building, this correspondent found the coating of the mixture of lime and surki (brick dust) has fallen at places in the structure. Ornate windows, wearing a decrepit look, infuse a regal glory in the structure that bears the history of the Nawabs of Dhaka who resided in the palace till 1743. The magnificent gateway in the middle of the structure stands with an air of splendour that instils a sense of pride into the hearts of the visitors.

Nimtali Palace was built towards the end of the Mughal rule in Dhaka as a residence of the Naib-Nazim (Deputy-Governor) of Dhaka-Niabat (Dhaka Province) in 1765-66. As it was situated in the Nimtali Mahalla (ward) of the city, it was popularly called the Nimtali Kuthi (Nimtali Palace). All but one gateway (Nimtali Deuri) of the palace has now disappeared.

When the capital of the 'Subah-e -Bangala' was shifted from Dhaka to Murshidabad in about 1717, Dhaka was made the seat of a Deputy-Governor of a sub-province comprising approximately the greater part of present Bangladesh. The deputy-governor, usually a close ally of the nawab, resided in one of the many abandoned palaces or forts of Dhaka.

In 1763, when the British Army officer Lt Swinton stormed the city, Nawab Jasarat Khan, the naib-nazim, who lived in the main fort of Dhaka (the present central jail), was not in Dhaka. He was then a prisoner of Nawab Mir Qasim in Bihar. The now-extinct palace consisted of a number of separate buildings and occupied a vast tract of area between the Nimtali mahallah and the High Court building. It was situated at the periphery of the city mostly surrounded by woodlands.

Apart from the gateways, the palace also had inner court, private residences, place of prayers, water tanks, barracks for soldiers and quarters for staff.

According to a description in the Banglapedia by Prof Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Professor of Department of History of Dhaka University, Nimtali Palace occupied a considerable area on the northern side of the city between the modern Nimtali Mahalla and the High Court building and consisted of a number of separate buildings. The site was just at the periphery of the then city, mostly surrounded by woodlands. It is not possible to provide a correct or detailed description of these structures as no contemporary narrative or plan of the site has yet been found. It may, however, be assumed, judging from the only extant gateway, the Nimtali Deuri, that it was built after the usual Mughal palace designs with several gateways, inner court, private residences, place of prayer, tanks or water reservoirs, barracks for soldiers and quarters of staff, gardens and the like.

A narrow channel running from the north would draw water from the Kamalapur River in the east to supply water to the palace.

The palace played a significant role in the social and cultural arena of Dhaka. It was the bastion of Mughal culture in Dhaka patronising classical music and dance, painting, arts, crafts and artisans. One colourful event that took place here regularly was the Eid procession, which used to start from and ended at the Nimtali Deuri.

Bishop Heber who visited Dhaka in 1824 gives a graphic description of the palace complex although most of it was then in ruins.

He mentioned a "Really a handsome gateway (Nimtali Deuri) with an open gallery, where the 'Nobut,' or evening martial music, is performed, a mark of sovereign dignity … a very handsome hall, an octagon, supported by gothic arches, with a verandah round it, and with gothic windows …" One chamber with twelve doors known as 'Baraduari' for the individual entrance of the 12 Sardars (leaders) of the mahallas of the city, Heber also mentioned.

Prof Sirajul Islam of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh said that Nimtali Deuri is an interesting feature of Mughal architecture. From north it looks like a gate and from south it looks like a palace.