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.
Courtesy: Ayesha Begum, Banglapedia, Asiatic Society of
Bangladesh
