Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath: The heart of Dinajpur

In recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for the crown of the biggest Eid congregation in the country, having hosted 600,000 worshippers in 2017. Photo: TBS

Mustafa Sabbir, a law student at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, often finds himself drawn to the vast expanse of Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath in Dinajpur. 

"Standing in front of this massive field makes me feel so small," he says, gazing at the horizon. "It inspires me to become as grand as the field itself."

In the past four years of his student life, Sabbir can count on one hand the days he's spent in Dinajpur without visiting this iconic field. Like Sabbir, many residents of the district town consider the field as not just a place, but a destination — a meeting point for leisure, conversation and community. 

Every afternoon, the field fills with children, teenagers and people of all ages. It hosts everything from games and friendly gatherings to fairs, national celebrations, and even public receptions. To the locals, it is affectionately known as the heart of Dinajpur — vital, central and irreplaceable.

On any typical Friday afternoon, it becomes a training ground for young athletes. The northern side is regularly used by the Prochesta Cricket Academy, where aspiring cricketers practise. 

However, these players often raise concerns about the field's poor condition. Uneven ground, littering, and makeshift stalls hamper their training. Grazing livestock and learner drivers only add to the disruptions. In the evenings, vendors enter with carts selling snacks like chotpoti and fuchka, while driving lessons and vehicle tests take place across the field.

The southeast corner offers more structured activity, housing a gymnasium, and basketball and handball courts. It also becomes the venue for the annual trade and industry fair, turning the area into a vibrant centre of celebration. 

The field is split by a paved road into two sections. 

The northern half features landmarks like the Shaheed Minar, Sports Village, the grand Eidgah Minar, a stage for political events, and the old Officers' Club. However, right beside the striking Eidgah Minar lies the municipal garbage disposal site, which deters foot traffic and tarnishes the surrounding area. At the far northern end, a bustling hawkers' market adds to the field's daily rhythm.

The field has also become the heart of a thriving network of small businesses, many of which are temporary food stalls. Monir Akhand, who has sold fast food here for seven years, says, "Not so many people used to come here before. In recent years, the crowd has grown significantly... Now, even after bringing in more goods, I can barely keep up with the demand." 

Aleya Jahan, who sells handmade household items, shares, "Our lives revolve around this field... It's only because of this place that I can earn a living and support my family."

A grand Eidgah ground

Sholakia has long held the reputation of hosting the largest Eid Jamaat in Bangladesh. But in recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for this crown. 

Though Eid prayers have been held here since Partition, it was not until 2015 that the field began drawing nationwide attention. That year, the local MP and district council initiated the construction of the monumental Eidgah Minar, which was completed in 2017 at a cost of Tk4 crore. Architecturally grand and spiritually symbolic, this Mughal-style minar has transformed the field's image entirely.

The 516-feet-long Eidgah Minar features 52 domes, 32 arches with electric lighting, and a beautifully tiled mihrab standing 55 feet tall. Corner minarets reach 60 feet in height, and the structure glows brilliantly at dusk. 

This remarkable architectural feat has turned the field into not just a space for religious gathering, but also a tourist attraction. Worshippers now come not only from Dinajpur but also from surrounding districts like Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Nilphamari.

In 2017, the same year the Minar was completed, Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Math also recorded a crowd of over 600,000 worshippers — matching Sholakia's numbers. Since then, it has frequently been featured in national news and widely shared on social media as a new centre for large-scale Eid gatherings. 

The field is equipped with modern arrangements including more than 20 entrances, security watchtowers, parking zones, and first-aid stations. Special trains are arranged every Eid to accommodate the rising number of attendees.

A landmark in need of care

Despite its historical and cultural significance, Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath suffers from neglect. Although several recreational centres have been developed in Dinajpur's sub-districts, the district town lacks such spaces. 

The nearest alternatives are City Park and Jibon Mahal Park (both privately owned and around four kilometres away), and Ramsagar National Park, eight kilometres from town. For residents, Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Math is the go-to destination for everything — from Eid prayers to religious sermons, Independence Day parades, Pahela Baishakh celebrations, trade fairs, book festivals, and cultural and political events.

This constant use has taken a toll on the field. 

Local elder Jahangir Alam reminisces, "There was a time when you could stand at the north end of the field and see all the way to Kasba in the south. That field now feels crowded and neglected. It's lost its charm." 

He points out how the uneven ground has become a breeding ground for litter, waterlogging occurs during the monsoon, and motorcyclists and driving instructors often misuse the space. 

Layers of history

Two popular legends surround the naming of Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath. One suggests that Shah Amiruddin Ghuri (R), a missionary from Persia who came to spread Islam in the region, passed away here and was buried beside the field. This is believed to have given rise to the name, which translates from Persian as "Grave of the Martyr." 

Another version recounts a battle during the reign of Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, in which 40 Sufi warriors fought against a local king. One of the Sufis was killed at the very site of the present-day field and was buried there, giving the field its name.

Historical records reveal that during the Second World War, British forces used the field as a mobilisation point for the Northern Front. The lush green space spans 22 acres. During British rule, a granary was built on the northern edge of the field, which was the only food storage facility for undivided Dinajpur. 

In the mid-19th century, a station club was established nearby for European officers. The field also hosted horse races during the colonial era and football tournaments, such as the Nar Narayan Shield, during the Pakistan period.

In 1962, a helipad was constructed here for helicopter landings. After Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, the country's flag was hoisted here for the first time in Dinajpur on 20 December by M Abdur Rahim. 

Following independence, the district's central Jame Mosque was built along one side of the field. In 1986, the leader of the Tebhaga movement and revered local figure, Haji Mohammad Danesh, was laid to rest beside the mosque.