During the period of the sultanate of Bengal, a Sufi saint, Hazrat Shahjalal Dakhini of Dhaka, and his followers were killed by agents of the sultan and buried on the site of Bangabhaban. The site soon became famous as a mazhar for the devotees of the saint. It is conjectured that it belonged to a zamindar during the period of British rule. Nawab Khwaja Abdul Ghani of Dhaka bought the site and built a bungalow there, which he named as Dilkusha Garden. With the partition of Bengal in 1905 by Lord Curzon, the government of East Bengal and Assam bought the site and constructed a palatial house which served as a temporary residence for the Viceroy of India until 1911. From 1911 to 1947, the palace was called the Governor's House, and served as the official residence of the Governor of Bengal. Following the independence of Pakistan and India in 1947, when East Bengal officially became part of Pakistan and became known as East Pakistan, the palace became the residence of the Governor of East Pakistan. The building was damaged by a storm in 1961; substantial reconstruction was completed by 1964. Two research books on history of Bangabhaban were published on 14 February 2006 under the initiatives of President Professor Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed. The two separate books were namely Hundred Years of Bangabhaban and Bangabhbaner Shatabarsha,. The research panel was led by Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh National University Professor Dr. A. Momen Chowdhury who was also a senior Professor of the University of Dhaka and historian Dr. K. M. Mohsin, researcher-journalist-editor turned government actor Mukhles Chowdhury, historian with archive expertism Professor Dr. Sharif Uddin Ahmed and other distinguished researchers were involved. Notable, the book is the outcome of two years' research by a panel of eminent historians, researchers, scientists and architects. On 14 February 1906, Sir Joseph Bamfylde Fuller, the first Lieutenant-Governor of the then province of East Bengal and Assam started his official work at the Darbar Hall of the Bangabhaban during the British Rule.
Status
One of the most important symbols of the Bangladesh government, the Bangabhaban holds a status akin to the official residence and office of heads of statesaround the world. The palace is an important historical landmark and the centre of media and tourist attraction. Special public ceremonies are held during Independence Day of Bangladesh on 26 March every year. The Bangladesh president frequently holds meetings, conferences and state dinners for sll occasions representing Bangladesh, including national leaders, intellectuals and visiting foreign heads of states and ambassadors. The traditions and pomp of the palace are a symbolic indication of the presidency's ceremonial superiority to other public and national institutions.
Structure
The Bangabhaban is a mix of Moghul architecture with touches of British era designs that typify numerous buildings of the British-era in Dhaka. With the reconstruction between 1961 and 1964, many elements of Islamic architecture and Bangla styles were incorporated. The palace has high boundary walls on all four sides. The main building is a three-storeyed palatial complex, around which stands extensive greenery and tree cover. The floorspace of the ground floor is 7000 square metres. The president's residence is on the north-east corner, comprising two storeys of two suites along with five well-furnished spacious bedrooms. The president's office, the office of the civil and military secretaries and other presidential officials, and separate rooms for audience with local and foreign visitors are also located in the ground floor. In addition, there is a cabinet room, banquet hall, darbar hall, state dining hall, a small auditorium and a lounge for local visitors. In addition to the president's residence, there are five rooms for officials, a control room and a studio in the first floor. In the second floor, there are four suites for foreign heads of state and government. The Bangabhaban has an open compound of of land. The security office, post office, bank, cafeteria hall, tailoring shop, a three-domed mosque and barracks of the president's guard regiment are located in the vicinity of the main gate of the Bangabhaban. The residential quarters for officers and staff of the President's office are located in three outlying areas of Bangabhaban. There are also two bungalows one for the military secretary and the other for the assistant military secretary.
