A striking windowless mausoleum built with 52,000 bricks in Manikganj town has drawn international attention for its distinctive architectural language and masterful use of light.
Known locally as Wasi Mahal, the red-brick shrine stands 24 feet tall in the Hijuli area, surrounded by lush greenery, where sunlight and moonlight filter in naturally despite the absence of any windows, creating a mesmerising ambience day and night.
The mausoleum, visited by devotees as well as hundreds of architecture enthusiasts, has already crossed national boundaries in reputation, with its design now being taught at the University of Florence in Italy and featured in several renowned international journals.
In 2024, the structure received the prestigious RIBA International Award for Excellence, one of the world’s most respected honours in architecture, while its architect earlier won the Union of International Architects’ Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Award in 2023 for the same project.
The mausoleum is the final resting place of Shah Mohammad Mohsin Khan, a respected Islamic scholar and college teacher who inspired generations in Manikganj through Islamic philosophy, alongside his wife Begum Nurjahan and father Mohammad Ismail Khan, locals said.
Manikganj has long been influenced by Sufi traditions, and the mausoleum reflects that spiritual heritage blended with contemporary architectural expression, earning it a distinct identity both at home and abroad.
The architect, Mohammad Sharif Uddin Ahmed, has been practising architecture for more than two decades after graduating from Khulna University in 2005 and later founding the architectural firm Sthapotik in 2007, while also teaching part-time at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology.
He said the project was overseen by scientist Mubarak Ahmad Khan, who wished to build a unique family mausoleum to preserve the memory and work of his father, drawing inspiration from Sultanate-era mosques and shrines such as the Sixty Dome Mosque of Bagerhat.
While designing the structure, Sharif Uddin Ahmed said he studied historic architecture for nearly three months, placing special emphasis on light, inspired by the works of Louis I Kahn, particularly the play of light in Bangladesh’s National Parliament building.
Built entirely with local materials and craftsmanship, the project required training local artisans for two weeks to achieve the intricate brickwork, overcoming the scarcity of skilled brick artisans, sources involved in the project said.
Inside the mausoleum, 16 cylindrical hanging structures descend from the roof, known as the Chandeliers of Paradise, directing light onto three white marble graves below, creating the impression of celestial light falling from above.
Semi-circular walls made of local clay bricks feature small square perforations that allow hot air to escape from above, while open entrances and perforated doors ensure the free flow of cool air and natural light, maintaining comfort without mechanical ventilation.
Scientist Mubarak Ahmad Khan said his father was a Sufi of the Waesia order and a former headmaster of Manikganj Government Boys’ High School, adding that building a unique shrine for his parents and grandfather has brought deep peace and fulfilment to the family.
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