A fraction of original Paltan Maidan. We grew up in Paltan and the massive Maidan was destroyed gradually in front of us. The old Maidan had a lake in the north. For reaching paltan from Nawabpur end a snaking road was made in the 50s and the road was redone (made straight) in the 60s. Since the 50s the was a make shift stadium of blocks of wooden galleries. By adding or removing the gallery blocks the sports ground could increased or decreased in size. Finally in the mid 50s the construction of the present stadium started along with the swimming pool (The first swimming pool and stadium in the country). Eventually the entire Maidan disappeared with the construction of hockey stadium, Bhashani stadium etc. Every winter Irani gypsies would come to Dhaka and set up 100s of tents in the Maidan. Every morning the Irani women would go from house to house selling trinkets. Even Saudi men would come selling Tasbih, prayer mat and other religious talisman in the important streets. We also had the Kabuliwalas, the devilish money lenders. It was completely a different Dhaka. The centuries old mosque is still there including the Dilkusha mosque of the nawabs (seen behind Paltan Maidan mosque). The Imam of the mosque was our first religion teacher (Fiska Moulavi). - Text by Ahmad A Newaz
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:21:48 +0000
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