A Mughal fortress frozen in time by a father's superstition
In short: In 17th-century Bengal, the construction of an imperial masterpiece was halted not by war or lack of funds, but by a perceived omen. The Lalbagh Fort stands today as a haunting architectural fragment—a miniature version of Mughal grandeur left unfinished after the death of a beloved daughter.
Originally known as Fort Aurangabad, construction began in 1678 under Prince Muhammad Azam Shah, the son of Emperor Aurangzeb. The prince intended to create a residence for the governor of Bengal, modeling it after iconic structures like the Red Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. However, his father recalled him to assist in wars against the Marathas, leaving the project incomplete. Shaista Khan, who served as Mughal Bengal's Subahdar, took charge of its supervision later.
Work on the structure ceased completely during 1684 after Iran Dukht Pari Bibi, Shaista Khan's daughter, passed away. According to local tradition, Khan became superstitious, believing the fort brought bad luck, and abandoned the construction. While some legends suggest she was an Ahom princess captured during a military expedition, most contemporary beliefs identify her as Khan's own daughter. She was buried within the complex in a tomb that remains one of its three primary structures.
Archaeological excavations between 1994 and 2009 revealed the fort's sophisticated engineering, including a hammam (bathhouse) with an underground room for boiling water using terracotta pipes and fire-heated systems. The site also contains mysterious tunnels; some were allegedly designed as mazes where soldiers disappeared during the Sepoy Revolution of 1857. Today, while the river Buriganga has retreated from its original banks, the fort remains a primary symbol of Mughal rule in Dhaka.
The current layout represents only about half of what was originally planned by Prince Azam Shah. The eastern portion, likely intended for administrative use, remains extinct or incomplete. Despite its abandoned state after the capital moved to Murshidabad, the fort continues to be restored and serves as a major cultural landmark.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Lalbagh Fort
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