Teota Zamindar Bari located in Shibaloy Upazila of Manikganj District is one of the oldest archaeological structures in Bangladesh. As important as the house is in terms of time, the love story of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and Pramila Devi is interwoven with it.
According to history, this zamindar house was built by zamindar Panchanan Sen in the 17th century. Panchanan Sen built this palace after he became rich in tobacco production in Dinajpur region. But after Panchanan Sen, Jai Shankar and Hem Shankar established their zamindari here. But when they both left India after partition, the house was abandoned.
The palace was built housing 55 rooms, a 75-foot-high Noborotno Temple. The northern part of the palace is called Hem Shankar estate while the southern part is named Jai Shankar estate. There is a large pond in front of the Zamindar Bari’s area.
Nazrul’s wife Pramila Devi’s house was next to this zamindar bari. Therefore, the memory of the love of poet Nazrul and Asalata Sengupta Pramila (Duli) Devi is connected with the landlord’s house. Being impressed by Pramila’s appearance Nazrul wrote –
“তুমি সুন্দর তাই চেয়ে থাকি প্রিয়
সেকি মোর অপরাধ”
This historically important magnificent structure is now in a dilapidated condition, having not even a single caretaker from the department of Archaeology. We believe, proper initiatives will be taken to make this palace a secured place to visit for the visitors which will spread its enriched history to them.