Documentation Team:
Author Name: Architect Khandokar Mahfuz Alam, Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangladesh.
Draftsman: Md Juvbayer Rahman, Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangladesh.
Illustration: Addeb Ahnaf (Fourth-year Architecture Student of BUET)
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The district has grown up with a combination of ancient and modern famous architectural patterns. There are many antiquities here. Nine Of these have been preserved by the Department of Archeology. Preserved archeological sites are Qutub Mosque of Ashtagram Upazila Sadar, Harshi Mosque, Kishoreganj Sadar Upazila Poet Dwijbangshi Das and Poet Chandrabati's memorial temple, 'Jangalbari' of Karimnagar Upazila 'Shadi Mosque' and Shah Mahmud Mosque, Saheb Bari (Sekandarnagar) Mosque of Tarail Upazila, Gurui Mosque of Nikli Upazila. The five-domed Qutub Shah Mosque is one of the finest examples of Bengali architecture which is located in Austagram of Kishoreganj. Recently, architect Khandaker Mahfuz Alam and his team completed the architectural documentation of the Qutub Shah Mosque.
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Image : Location Map |
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Image : Site Plan & Ground Floor Plan | The Qutub Shah Mosque stands on the bank of a large lake in the open courtyard. There is no inscription found on the walls of this mosque so it’s difficult to assume the exact construction date of this Mosque. However, if we observed the construction materials and ornaments of this mosque, it is clearly assumed that this mosque was built in the Sultan period approximately the later part of the 16th century. There is a tomb next to the mosque. It is also considered to be one of the oldest examples of Muslim architecture. In 1909, the then Department of Archeology registered it as preserved. It is also assumed to be the earliest example of Muslim architecture which still exists in the greater Mymensingh district. |
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Image : West Side Elevation |
Image : East Front Elevation |
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The mosque is elongated along north and south and has four minarets at its four corners. There are ring-like features on its octagonal minarets. It is a medium sized mosque with five domes and curved cornices. Central dome of the Kutub Shah Mosque is slightly semi spherical shaped and the other four domes are the shape of oval (half of the oval). Each of the domes are having upside down like flowering ornate at the top.
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Image : Section |
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Image : Section |
Image : Section |
The mosque has three entries on the east while one on the north and another on the south. Along the west wall, there are three mihrabs. There is a beautiful paneling work on its exterior walls, which is similar to that Kherua mosque at Sherpur, Bogra. Terracotta tiles with floral decoration have also been used in the ornamentation of the external walls.
