Rose Garden Palace

The Rose Garden Palace is a mansion and garden in Old Dhaka. Built in the late 19th century, it became birthplace of the Awami League in 1949, when East Bengali liberal and social democrats converged in Dhaka to form an alternative political force against the Muslim League in Pakistan.The property is situated on K.M. Das Lane in Tikatully of Old Dhaka, near the modern business district of Motijheel. The mansion was built by a landlord (zaminder) Hrikesh Das. He lived in the mansion for a decade. Later in 1927, he became bankrupt and sold the mansion to landlords of Nabinagar and Brahmanbaria. Due to the unfortunate death of Zamidar Boshuruddin Sarkar of Nabinagar, the family had to sell the mansion to a businessman.HistoryThe Rose Garden Palace was built by a Hindu zamindar Hrikesh Das in the late 19th century. Around that time jalsas (parties) held at Baldha Garden were an important part of the social life of the city's wealthier Hindu residents. The story goes that Hrishikesh, a zamindar of lower caste background, being insulted on this account by someone at one of the jalsas at Baldha Garden, decided to create his own garden to outshine that of Baldha. Here he staged jalsas of his own. The centerpiece of the garden is an elegant pavilion. However, this was not created as a residence, but rather a setting for entertainment such as musical performances (although subsequent owners did use it as a house). This extravagant lifestyle caused Hrikesh to go bankrupt and he was forced to sell the property.