Comilla District
Encyclopedia
The district of Comilla consists 4543 mosques, 379 temples, 98 churches, 34 Buddhist temples and six tombs.
Monastery
ruins are the major attraction of Mainamati
, near Kotbari.
There is also a Second World War cemetery
located about 3.1 km away from Comilla Cantonment, which was a frontier military base in the fight against the Japanese who had occupied Burma. British Army
soldiers killed during the fight with the Japanese Army
at the Burma (Myanmar) frontier were buried here. Pashchimgaon Nawab Bari, the place of only lady Jaminder Faizunnesa
, a poet, educationist and a great donor.
Kazi Nazrul Islam
, the national poet of Bangladesh, passed significant time of his life in this town. Both his wives, Promila Devi and Nargis, hailed from this district.
Comilla Victoria College and Comilla Zilla School are two ancient and famous college and school in the country. Comilla Zilla School was established in the year of 1837. Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) is situated in Kotbari.
Situated by the bank of the river Ghumti, Comilla is also famous for some tanks such as 'Dhormo Sagor', 'Ranir Dighi', 'Nanuar Dighi', 'Ujir Dighi' etc.
Marks of rich ancient civilization have been found in Lalmai Mainamati hills. In these hills there are plenty of archaeological sites including Shalvan Vihara, Kutila Mura, Charandra Mura, Rupban Mura, Itakhola Mura, Satera Ratna Mura, Ranir Banglar Pahar, Ananda Bazar Palaces, palaces of Bhoj King, Chandi Mura, etc. Various archaeological relics including images and metalled utensils discovered from these viharas, muras and palaces are now preserved in the Mainamati Museum. Other archaeological heritage and relics include Saptaratna Mandir (Jagannath Mandir
), Shah Suja Mosque, Dharmasagar, Chandimata Mandir (on the top of Lalmai Hill of Barura), Chandala Shiva Mandir (Brahmanpara, eighteenth century), Saitshala Jami Mosque (Brahmanpara, 1719), Mazars of Panch Pir (five saints) at Shashidal (Brahmanpara, 1815), Harimangal Math (Brahmanpara, 1822), Ramnagar elongated Math (Brahmanpara, 1705), Saitshala Rammahan Mandir (Brahmanpara, 1805), Hasnabad Math.
Places of interest
Important landmarks include Kotbari, a cantonment, or military installation and Kandirpar, considered the heart of the Comilla district. Ancient BuddhistBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
ruins are the major attraction of Mainamati
Mainamati
Mainamati is located almost 8 miles from the town of Comilla, Bangladesh. It is the home of one of the most important Buddhist archaeological sites in the region. There are a number of Buddhist sites in this region, dating approximately from 7th to 12th centuries CE...
, near Kotbari.
There is also a Second World War cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
located about 3.1 km away from Comilla Cantonment, which was a frontier military base in the fight against the Japanese who had occupied Burma. British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
soldiers killed during the fight with the Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
at the Burma (Myanmar) frontier were buried here. Pashchimgaon Nawab Bari, the place of only lady Jaminder Faizunnesa
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
, a poet, educationist and a great donor.
Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam , sobriquet Bidrohi Kobi, was a Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of Bidrohi Kobi...
, the national poet of Bangladesh, passed significant time of his life in this town. Both his wives, Promila Devi and Nargis, hailed from this district.
Comilla Victoria College and Comilla Zilla School are two ancient and famous college and school in the country. Comilla Zilla School was established in the year of 1837. Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) is situated in Kotbari.
Situated by the bank of the river Ghumti, Comilla is also famous for some tanks such as 'Dhormo Sagor', 'Ranir Dighi', 'Nanuar Dighi', 'Ujir Dighi' etc.
Marks of rich ancient civilization have been found in Lalmai Mainamati hills. In these hills there are plenty of archaeological sites including Shalvan Vihara, Kutila Mura, Charandra Mura, Rupban Mura, Itakhola Mura, Satera Ratna Mura, Ranir Banglar Pahar, Ananda Bazar Palaces, palaces of Bhoj King, Chandi Mura, etc. Various archaeological relics including images and metalled utensils discovered from these viharas, muras and palaces are now preserved in the Mainamati Museum. Other archaeological heritage and relics include Saptaratna Mandir (Jagannath Mandir
Comilla Jagannath Temple
Comilla Jagannath Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Jagannath in Comilla, Bangladesh. The temple dating back to the 16th century is built of teracotta brick work in the typical Bengal style of temple architecture...
), Shah Suja Mosque, Dharmasagar, Chandimata Mandir (on the top of Lalmai Hill of Barura), Chandala Shiva Mandir (Brahmanpara, eighteenth century), Saitshala Jami Mosque (Brahmanpara, 1719), Mazars of Panch Pir (five saints) at Shashidal (Brahmanpara, 1815), Harimangal Math (Brahmanpara, 1822), Ramnagar elongated Math (Brahmanpara, 1705), Saitshala Rammahan Mandir (Brahmanpara, 1805), Hasnabad Math.
Notable personalities
- Mahasthabir ShilvadraAcharyaIn Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
(529-654):a great buddhist monk & pandit, professor & chancellor of Nalanda Bihar. Born in Koilain, Chandina Upazila of Comilla - FaizunnesaNawabA Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
Chowdhurani(1834–1903): poet & philanthropist. - Dhirendranath DattaDhirendranath DattaDhirendranath Datta was a Bengali lawyer by profession who was also active in the politics of undivided Bengal in pre-partition India, and later in East Pakistan...
(1886–1971): Political leader, provincial minister of the than East Pakistan, Language Movement activist & lawyer. - barrister Shafiq Ahmed - Minister of Law
- Advocate Abdul Motin Khosru- Ex. Law Minister
- Buddhadeb Basu (1908–1974):Bangla poet, novelist, essayist, translator & editor.
- Kailashchandra singha(1851–1914): historian & archaeologist (author of 'Rajmala' and many historic books on tippera, sylhet, comilla).
- Nowab Musharaf Hussen(1871–1966): politician,education minister,member of bengal legislative assembly
- Maheshchandra vottracharjya(1858–1944): philanthropist, munificent & writer (founder of Iswar patsala, ram mala hostel, library & 35 educational institutions and many other charitable organisations in comilla & other parts of the then Bengal & India).
- Kaminikumar Dutta(1878–1958): Provincial minister of East Pakistan.
- Professor.Ghulam Subhan (1920–2006):Legendary educationalist and scholar, Former Head of the chemistry- Comilla Victoria College
- Sachin Dev BurmanSachin Dev BurmanSachin Dev Burman , also credited as Burman da, Kumar Sachindra Dev Barman, Sachin karta or S. D. Burman, was one of the most famous music composers for Hindi movies and a Bengali singer and composer. His son Rahul Dev Burman also achieved great success as a Bollywood music director in his own...
(1906–1975):singer, composer & music director - Himanshu Dutta(1908-15 Nov 1944):composer,singer.Titled"Sur-Sagar"(The Ocean of Music)
- Abdur Rahim(1988-), poet, lyricist, novelist. He wrote several popular books.
- Mohamed Ali Azam(1908–1974): educationist, translator & author (a contributor to Encyclopædia Britannica).
- Major(Red)Abdul Gani(1919–1957): founder of Bengal Regiment & member of BLA.
- Khondaker Mostaq AhmadKhondaker Mostaq AhmadKhondaker Moshtaq Ahmad was a Bangladeshi politician who served as the President of Bangladesh from 15 August to 6 November 1975 after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh...
(1919–1996): Ex-president of Bangladesh - Dr Akhtar Hameed KhanAkhtar Hameed KhanAkhtar Hameed Khan was a Pakistani development activist and social scientist credited for pioneering microcredit and microfinance initiatives, farmers' cooperatives, and rural training programmes in the developing world. He promoted participatory rural development in Pakistan and other developing...
(1914–1999) : Social reformer and Development activist. - Professor Shamsul Haque : Educationist & ex-foreign minister of Bangladesh.
- Shib Narayan DasShib Narayan DasShib Narayan Das was a Bangali student activist, at that time , Secretary of Comilla District branch of the then Chatra League ....
: the designer of first national flag of Bangladesh in 1971, a freedom fighter & political activist. - Abdur Rashid Engineer (1934–2006): Ex-Minister of Bangladesh Government.
- Lt. Col.(Ret) Akbar HossainAkbar HossainAkbar Hossain was a veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation War and a Minister in three Bangladesh governments.-Military career:...
BP : Ex-Minister of Bangladesh Government. - M.K. Anwar: Ex-minister of Bangladesh.
- Dr. Redwan Ahmed (1952- : Ex-state Minister, Philanthropist, Freedom Fighter, Educationist
- Dr. Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain: Ex-minister of Bangladesh.
- Kazi Shamsul HoqueKazi Shamsul HoqueKazi Shamsul Hoque is a Bangladeshi journalist and the founding editor of Akhon Samoy and Senior Vice President of "USA-Bangladesh Press Club", New York.- Career :...
, an eminent journalist, founder editor of weekly Akhon SamoyAkhon SamoyAkhon Samoy is a Bengali language newspaper published from New York, USA since 2000. The paper's theme, as printed in the upper left-hand corner of the editorial page, is "A New Millennium newsweekly" is organized into sections: News, Opinions, International, Literature, Arts, Science, Sports,...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. - Mr. Sifullah Miajee : [Nangalkot]: Political leader and Social reformer.
- Kazi Zafar Ahmed : Ex Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
- Abdur Rahim Chowdhury (satbaria,Nangolkot,Comilla):Ex Leo district council President 315B2,Bangladesh
- Capt. Sujat Ali (1926–2007), ex-Minister, founder of Sujat Ali College
- Fazle Nizami (1933–1984), music teacher & Rabindra sangeet singer
- Shib Narayan Das, one of designers of the first national flag of Bangladesh and veteran freedom fighter
- Air Vice-Marshall Mohammad Jamaluddin, ex-Chief of Staff of Bangladesh Air Force
- Kamini Kumar Dutta (1878–1958), ex-Minister
- Anis Chowdhury (1929–1990), novelist and dramatist
- AHM Lotus Kamal, President Bangladesh cricket board,Chairman of Parliamentary committee of Finance Ministry