|
Baba Adam's Mosque and
Tomb is situated in the village of Kazi
Qasba under Rikabibazar Union in Rampal thana of
Munshiganj district. The rectangular multi-domed
mosque measures internally 10.35m x 6.75m and
externally 14.30m x 11.45m; the thickness of the
wall is about 2m. The mosque is divided into
three bays and two aisles. The back of the
western wall is projected in three steps of
which the central part contains an ornamental
multicusped arch-panel. The mosque is roofed
over by six uniform hemispherical domes, three
in each row. There are two freestanding slender
pillars of black basalt, octagonal at the base,
then sixteen-sided, having chain and bell
motifs. The stone pillars, apparently of
pre-Muslim origin, support the arches from which
spring six domes. The arches are of the pointed
two-centred variety. The mosque is brick built,
but the freestanding pillars and engaged
pilasters are made of stone. The cornice and
roof of the mosque are curvilinear as is most of
the buildings of the sultanate period. On the
eastern side, there are three impressive arched
entrances parallel to the mihrabs in the
west wall. The central mihrab shows a
multi-cusped arch curved on ornamental pillars.
The spandrels of the arch are embossed with
rosettes, above which is a row of decorative
niches, topped with tiers of mouldings.
All the entrances and
mihrabs are recessed within rectangular
frames. The south and north walls contain
rectangular niches. The mosque does not have a
minaret. On both sides of the central doorway
there are two multi-cusped rectangular panels.
The arches are supported on faceted small
pillars and decorated with a beautiful
terracotta floral design and a hanging motif.
This type of facade decoration is also found in
shahjadpur mosque (Serajganj).
Baba Adam's Mosque shows all
the decorative and architectural characteristics
of the sultanate architecture of Bengal. This
mosque, in fact, bears the mature form of the
sultanate mosque style of this region
(Bangladesh). It is a six-domed mosque. The only
other extant example of this type of mosque is
Satgaon Mosque (1529 AD).
An inscription, fixed above
the central doorway in the east, records 888
AH/1483 AD as the date of construction of the
mosque. Malik Kafur built it during the reign of
Sultan Fath Shah. Baba Adam's Mosque is now a
protected monument under the Department of
Archaeology, Bangladesh. It has been renovated
and is in a comparatively good state of
preservation.
Besides the mosque there is a
tomb known as Baba Adam's Mazar, where,
according to a legend,
baba
adam shahid, who died in a holy war,
was buried. It is difficult to ascertain the
historicity of this tomb due to lack of
authentic sources. There is a newly built small
tomb structure situated on the south-east side
of the courtyard of the mosque. Previously,
there was no roof over the tomb. The present
tomb is square in plan (7.62m a side) and is
undated and without any inscription tablet. The
simple grave has no feature of architectural
importance and the Department of Archaeology is
not responsible for preserving it. |
