Lalbagh Fort: Mughal grandeur left unfinished by ill fortune

An unfinished project that began in 1678
Originally known as Qila Aurangabad, Lalbagh Fort is one of the historic landmarks of Dhaka. Begun during the Mughal period, the fort today welcomes visitors with its mosque, tomb, palace buildings and extensive gardens.

Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's third son, Prince Muhammad Azam, began construction of the fort in 1678 during his governorship of Bengal. He stayed in Bengal for 15 months before being recalled by his father, Aurangzeb, to suppress the Maratha rebellion.
With Azam's departure, the fort was left unfinished.

Construction was subsequently continued by Shaista Khan, the Mughal Subahdar of Bengal. But the project was never completed.

The death of Pari Bibi and the tale of ill fortune
The most striking account surrounding the unfinished Lalbagh Fort is connected to Iran Dukht, known as Pari Bibi, the daughter of Shaista Khan.

Pari Bibi was the fiancée of Prince Muhammad Azam.
She died at the fort in 1684. According to Bangladesh's official tourism sources, Shaista Khan subsequently came to regard the fort as unlucky and left the structure incomplete.
Today, the Tomb of Pari Bibi remains one of the most prominent parts of Lalbagh Fort.

Traces of Mughal architecture
The surviving principal structures of the fort include the Tomb of Pari Bibi, the Diwan-i-Aam and the three-domed mosque.
The Diwan-i-Aam, or audience hall, was an important part of the administrative complex, while a Hammam is attached to its eastern side. The mosque stands on the western side, with the Tomb of Pari Bibi positioned between the two principal structures.
UNESCO describes this central arrangement as part of the fort's elaborate spatial organization.

The green spaces, water channels and fountains further shape the architectural character of the complex. Archaeological excavations have shown that the fort once contained more than the structures visible today, including utility buildings, a stable, an administration block, a roof garden, fountains, a water reservoir and residential areas.

A window into the past in Dhaka
Today, Lalbagh Fort is one of the important historic sites bearing traces of the Mughal period within Dhaka's busy urban landscape.

With its green gardens, historic structures and unfinished story, the fort draws attention not only for its architecture but also for the tale of ill fortune that emerged after the death of Pari Bibi.

In 1844, the area acquired the name Lalbagh, replacing Aurangabad, and the fort subsequently became known as Lalbagh Fort.