Dhuke Dhuke is a wonderful city of 52 houses. Hollywood or Bollywood’s expensive movies would have been shot here if known. Millions of viewers around the world would be surprised to see this city on the screen. However, even though it is not very familiar to the people of Bangladesh, thousands of foreign tourists come to visit this hidden city every year. Hundreds of dramas, movies and music videos are being shot here. Yes, I am talking about ‘Panama City’ of Narayanganj Sonargaon.
The aristocratic city was built about three hundred years ago by the aristocratic traders on the banks of the Shitalaya river during the reign of Isha Khan. At one time the area was about 20 square kilometers. Now its specimens have survived for only 2 square kilometers. The city was also the main factory for making the world famous muslin cloth of Bengal. Panama is one of the 100 most endangered cities in the world, according to a survey by the American organization World Monument Fund.
Sonargaon was also the capital during the reign of Isa Khan in the fifteenth century. Later the Banadi Hindu merchants built Panam as their commercial capital. Many one-storey, two-storey houses were built in the city with the aristocracy of Western craftsmanship. Of which 52 still survive. Rows and rows of houses on either side of a street are really worth seeing. The houses were built using Mughal, Greek and Gandhara architectural styles. Craftsmen were brought from abroad for this. Brick-cast iron and shale wood have been used with bricks. There are ceramic tiles of British period. Red, black and white and colorful mosaic crafts. During the Indo-Pakistani communal riots in 1965, the Panamanian city, a stronghold of Hindu traders, fell into the hands of looters. The doors, windows, chandeliers and chores of the house were looted along with the property.
When Hindu traders migrated to India during the war, the city of Panama became depopulated. The prosperous city of Panama is slowly being destroyed. After the country became independent, the houses in Panama City were leased to the locals on a 10/15 year contract. Later it is also renewed. But after 2004, no one was allowed to stay in those houses. So Panam is now a ghost town. In 2005, two traditional houses in Panama City completely collapsed. Most of the houses are dilapidated due to neglect. The algae has taken over, the inner environment has also become satiety, ghostly and dark. Many homes have cracks in the ceramic tiles. The plaster is falling off. Somewhere the roof is collapsing. Two canals and five ponds were built on both sides to supply alcohol and water to the city of Panam. Now that too is lost.
However, in recent times, this historic city has been officially initiated. At present, the upazila administration has made arrangements for the visitors to enter the city of Panama by buying tickets. Ansar has been kept for security. However, due to the lack of adequate facilities and publicity, the city is not very crowded. This city is only 30 kilometers away from the capital Dhaka. It takes less than an hour by car. Come to Panama City, take a look at the heritage of Bengal. Proudly say this Bengali is mine all over the world.
