Rose Garden Palace is a prominent building and garden in the Narinda quarter of Old Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was originally built for the Nawabs of Dhaka as a pleasure lodge. It is currently owned by Laila Raquib. It is undergoing renovation and retains landmark status in Bangladesh. It is popularly known as the "Rose Garden".
The garden is located in Shamibag area at the K.M Das Lane of Tikutuli, a short rickshaw ride from Motijheel area.
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The Rose Garden Palace was created by a Hindu zamindar Hrikesh Das in the late 19th century. Around this time jalsas (parties) held at Baldah Garden were an important part of the social life of the city's wealthier Hindu residents. The story goes that Hrishikesh Das, a zamindar of lower caste background, being insulted on this account by someone at one of the jalsas at Baldah Garden, decided to create his own garden to outshine that of Baldah. 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). Unfortunately for Mr. Das his extravagant lifestyle caused him to go bankrupt and he was forced to sell the property.
This palace is known as "Humayun Shaheber Bari" (Mr Humayun's House) locally. The building was subsequently owned by Rashid, who renamed the building "Rashid Manzil", although people continued to refer to it as Humayun Shaheber Bari. The building, which remains a private property to date, has been renovated by its owners keeping the original character fully maintained.
In 1949, Bengali nationalists met at Rose Garden and established the Awami League.
The building has elegant Corinthian columns and has eight apartments including a central hall on its ground floor. The upper floor has a further five apartments including a large dance hall in the middle. In the front yard, there was a fountain originally, the structure of which still remains. There are several classical marble statues in the garden, although the rose garden that gave the mansion its name does not exist anymore.
Visitors are allowed to visit the place as an afternoon refreshment spot. The owners said that they wish to maintain the building and they have no plans to use them as their residential quarters and nor to make this a profit-based tourist spot.
Hamiduzzaman Khan, the sculptor and painter, has illustrated a book called Rose Garden. The book contains sketches in pen-and-ink, crayon and watercolour of this landmark property. The text has been written in English by Kazi Mohammed Sajid.
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