25/08/2026
Architectural Heritage of Old Dhaka through Academic Field Study
The Department of Architecture, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), organized an academic field study to the historic areas of Dhaka on 1 August 2026 as part of the courses History of Architecture III (Bengal) and Architectural Heritage Conservation of the M.Arch program. The visit brought together 38 students from 3rd Year, 1st Semester of the B.Arch program and 4 students from the M.Arch program, providing them with an opportunity to experience and examine significant examples of Bengal’s architectural and cultural heritage beyond the classroom.
The field study was conducted under the guidance of the course teacher, Nujaba Binte Kabir, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, AUST. The itinerary was carefully planned to expose students to religious, defensive, residential, and civic architecture representing different periods and layers of Dhaka’s architectural history.
The study began at the Khwaja Shahbaz Khan Mosque and Tomb, a significant Mughal-period religious complex constructed in 1679. Located near the present-day High Court area.
The group then visited Dhakeshwari National Temple, one of the most significant Hindu religious and cultural landmarks of Dhaka.The visit enabled students to consider religious architecture not only as a physical structure but also as a living heritage shaped by continuity of worship, cultural practices, adaptation, and conservation.
The next destination was the Khan Muhammad Mridha Mosque, constructed in 1704–1705 and recognized as an important surviving example of Mughal architecture in Old Dhaka.
The field study continued at Lalbagh Fort, the renowned 17th-century Mughal fort complex whose construction began in 1678. Students explored the overall planning of the complex and observed its major architectural components, including the fortifications, gateways, Diwan-i-Aam and Hammam, the Tomb of Pari Bibi, mosque, gardens, and water features.
The final destination was Ahsan Manzil, the historic palace associated with the Nawabs of Dhaka and presently preserved as a museum.
Throughout the field study, students were encouraged to observe the architectural style, spatial organization, construction techniques, materials, ornamentation, religious and cultural influences, historical transformations, and present conservation conditions of the visited sites. The experience also enabled the B.Arch and M.Arch students to approach the same heritage environments from complementary perspectives—one focusing on the historical development of architecture in Bengal and the other on issues of architectural heritage conservation.
