Ruplal House

[3] Its ground plan follows the shape of the letter 'E', with three arms extending towards the north or the city side, of which the middle arm projects about 1830 m. It accommodates a grand portico carried on a series of lofty semi-Corinthian fluted columns, and surmounted by a triangular pediment, characteristic of Renaissance architecture.

On the north and south two broad verandas run the entire length of the block and are supported on either round semi-Corinthian columns or rectangular brick pillars with segmented or trefoil arches above.

The Ruplal House was the only competitor to the Ahsan Manzil during the British colonial era.

Arch: Serve as lintels made of bricks over the doors, windows, and also on the circulation passages.

Finish materials: Marble tiles, Terrazzo, Red oxide, colored tinted glass.

Service areas are grouped together and located at the rear side of the building and stairs are at corners.

A gradual sequences of spaces unfolds as we go up to the stairs on the transitional space- the veranda, across the living room to the bedrooms and beyond that the open interior court and then to the service blocks.

Floors were constructed with burnt clay tiles covered with lime concrete finished and red oxide.

There are double veranda on both the sides of the block which makes the place airy and create indoor outdoor relationships.

2’6” thick wall and entirely constructed of brick masonry because of 22’ high dance hall.

Floors made of brick tiles that rest on the wooden cross beam system, and then a thick layer of lime concrete is applied over it.

In the Probeshika Exam he stood first and got a scholarship of tk 10 and he was a great fan of music.

Rooplal house is well known to have hosted a lot of cultural activity of the time.

After the earthquake of 1897 the watchtower of the house broke down and the family shifted their home to another place.

The story of Shyam Bazaar starts from after the Dash family left the house.

Mr Mohammed Siddique Jamall and family left for India and West in 1976.

Most of his and his brother Mr. Ibrahim Siddique Jamall's grandchildren migrated to USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and the Gulf and may claim ownership.

A portion of the 1st Floor of Jamall House block was used as Prince Karim Ago Khan Preparatory school from 1958.

Later it was used as the residential accommodation of the family of staff of JCO and NCO army officers.

It is heavily encroached by the spice and vegetable vendors and by a colony of un-authorized squatters who have erected shanty hovels against the building.

They bought a house on the bank of the Buriganga from Jamindar Sheikh Mutiullah and made their Kuthi in the place currently known as Ahsan Manzil.

The Naib Nazim, Nawazish Ali Khan gave permission to the French to build their market in the area, and it was named 'Frenchganj1, but to the locals it came to be known as 'Farashganj'.

The Buckland Bund was a new gathering place for the people of Dhaka; they used to come here to enjoy the view of the river.

Today, the Ruplal House is occupied by local spice and vegetable merchants and a colony of unauthorized squatters.

It has recently been "protected" by the Bengali Department of Archaeology; but a colony of squatters still continue to occupy parts of the building.

Action is urgently needed to preserve this artistic architectural structure from further decay.

Currently the surroundings of the Ruplal House, including the Buckland Dam area, consists of one of the biggest spice markets of Dhaka.

Wholesale traders of different types of spices have occupied the entire area.

Ruplal Das, after whom the mansion is named.