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Bemoaning the city that was

Photo exhibition highlighting Old Dhaka architecture

Karim Waheed
To mark the 400th anniversary of Dhaka asa capital city,-several irgamsations and institutions nave chalk out special programmes. An ongoing photo exhibition, sponsored by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited, at Drik Gallery features the architectural heritage of Old Dhaka, minute details of designs and festivals that are an indelible part of Dhaka life.
Most of the photographs at the exhibition are by Babu Ahmed. Ahmed started his career as a photojoumalist in 1988 and has worked for major national dailies. His previous exhibitions include * ’Glimpses of Bangladeshi Heritage at Drik Gallery (2002), 'Mughal Monuments of Bangladesh' at Institute of Fine Arts (2003), "100 Temples of Bangladesh’ at Bengal Gallery (2004), ’Selected Monuments of Bangladesh" (2005) and "Islamic Heritage of the Ganges Delta’ at the
Museum of Islamic An in Berlin (also in 2005).
Ahmed's photographs highlight the Mughal influence in Dhaka architecture, exquisitely ornate Hindu temples; lavishly decorated villas and abodes of the zamindars and merchants -- local and from overseas; churches, cemeteries and mausoleums that flaunt a hybrid style and more. The underlining message that comes across is the muffled wails of an overly burdened city losing its essence.
Ahmed's collection of photos features the oldest Church (1677) in Dhaka (Tejgaon) that showcases a brilliant amalgamation of Hindu, Christian and Muslim styles. The collection also includes a photo of a crumbling mausoleum -- of one Colombo Saheb (1800), an East India Company official. The structure follows the typical Mughal style.
The memorial (1900) in honour of a Greek merchant, living in Narayanganj, still stands at TSC,
Dhaka University but the beautifully ornate house (1890) of Manik Babu (an affluent local merchant) in Old Dhaka does not exist any more.
The Armenian Church that marked the existence of a once thriving community does not cease to impress but it has been painted over without much consideration repeatedly. The 150-year-old (app.) Ruplal House has lost much of its magnificence, now it’s being choked by inconsiderate new constructions surrounding it.
And so it goes. Life goes on. A city gradually loses its soul.
The exhibition also includes reproductions of sketches of early 19th century Dhaka, by Charles D'Oyley (from the collection titled Antiquities of Dacca).
D'Oyley was the collector of Dhaka between 1808 and 1811. He made quite a few drawings and decided to publish them in the form of folios.
One sketch features the remains of a bridge near Tantee Bazar.
Another shows Bara Kuttra.
The exhibition also includes a few frames by Munem Wasif who has recently garnered international acclaim for his "Old Dhaka" series. Munem's photos feature festivities that have become part of Dhaka's identity -- celebration Dhaka style. "Qurbani Eid", "Durga Puja", "Rong Khela” in Old Dhaka and processions of impassioned Shiites on "Muharram".
Photos from the Urban Study
Group (formed by a group of architects) that focuses on the need to preserve the architectural heritage of Dhaka, feature details of designs.
The display, though informative, could have included works of more photographers, considering "400 Years of Dhaka" is a theme on a grand scale. More points of views and angles would have been nicer.
The exhibition ends today.