While passing by Shatmasjid Road, it is hard not to notice the red-brick castle near old Road 13 overlooking Dhanmondi Lake. The huge majestic structure with its domes and pyramid-like protrusions reminds one of Disneyland's Magic Kingdom or a palace right out of The Arabian Nights. Mystery shrouds this extraordinary dwelling luring many curious visitors who may venture to take a closer look but seldom can get passed the ornate twin gates.
Who owns this red mansion out of Fantasy Land? Is there a beautiful princess locked up. in the imposing tower waiting for a Prince to rescue her from the evil sorcerer? Speculation about the place is endless. Some say it belongs to a politician, some say it is going to be the new Iraq Embassy while others believe it is a
Buddhist temple.
The truth behind all this is intriguing enough. The structure. called Chistia Palace belongs to Sher-e-Khawja. a spiritual leader who called himself an asheque' of the great holy saint Hazrat Khawja Moi-nuddin ChishU (R). Clad in saffron garb, the fortyish Sher-e-Khawja reveals the strange circum stances behind the building of his enormous home that holds several religious symbols in its architectural’ form.
The overall stfucture, for example. outlines an 'Allahu' in Arabic letters with the talltower as 'allf. and the two adjacent structures representing 'iaam' and 'he'. The brass spires on the four main steeples, explains Sher-e-Khawja. have been consecrated In the name of his four family members, including himself, his wife, son and daughter. In total, there are 38 sparkling spires, all dedicated to the Holy Prophet.
The design and engineering of this palatial mansion, which has about 40 rooms, have been completed entirely by the owner himself who is originally, a student of Commerce with no formal background in architecture or engineering. It was while he was at the Khawja Baba's darbar' where he goes quite often, that Sher-e-Khawja was inspired to build his house in this way. He shows a pen sketch of the place drawn by him in a 1992 diary. The picture Is almost identical to the present structure.
As a personality. Sher-e-Khawja is well-known for his predictions and hobnobbing with famous personalities. A photo album shows pictures of him with Rajiv Gandhi. Chan, dra Shekhar. Narasimha Rao, Zlaul Huq. Margaret Thatcher and many others Newspapers and magazines have described him as an ardent ashekan of the holy saint who "never takes nazrana from anyone" and who has made many predictions that have come true. A popular weekly gives an account of his revelations: In April '91. It says. Sher-e-Khawja predicted an impending danger for Rajiv Gandhi which came true when the late prime minister of India was assassinated only 40 days later. He also correctly foretold, the Journal continues, the fall of Ershad before December 15, 1990. On the western front, he has said In an interview with Khabarer Kagoj (1992) that USA will one day be dismembered like former Soviet Union and Los Angeles and San Fransisco will submerge into the sea due to earhquakes. For Ban gladesh. he has advised both Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina to be especially
careful of their health. Although many people, including some media have referred to him as a 'peer'. Sher-e-Khawja expresses his distaste for the title: "I am not a peer', there is often a lot of deception in this peer' notion; I am just an ordinary person".
Sher-e-Khawjas other identity Is that he is the Chairman of the Chistia Group of Industries with trading businesses in Bangladesh and Redding. England. His business includes garments. household goods and a construction consultancy. He is also a phi-
lanthropist and has set up a free medical and aid centre in Dhanmondi for the underprivileged.
It is his red house on the lake, however, that seems to be attracting a lot of attention nowadays. On Fridays and public holidays many tourists come with their cameras to film this Interesting looking house with its Gothic steeples. shining spires and intricate work on its gates and doors, some of It done by the owner himself. The back of the house has a circular patio with steps leading right into the lake. With trees surrounding it on all sides along with the tranquil water, it is a retreat that would have been perfect were it not for the odours from the growing pollution of the lake and the nearby tannery.
The inside is not as impressive as the exter lor since work is still going on and the rooms are mostly bare. Except of course, for the deep Indoor swimming pool with fountain, that opens into the patio.
In the future, Sher-e-Khawja plans to turn this red castle into a private Islamic Museum for children. Meanwhile, Chistia Palace stands proud and alone lending an aura of mystery to this otherwise ordinary neighbourhood.