Emran's Heritage Home: A history crash course at a heritage home | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

A history crash course at a heritage home

A 200-year-old heritage home has opened its doors to visitors
A history crash course at a heritage home

Habitat

Rupak Khan
25 August, 2020, 12:35 pm
Last modified: 25 August, 2020, 05:15 pm

Related News

  • Gold becomes costliest in Bangladesh's history as prices hiked for 18th time this year
  • Numerical story of the world's 7,164 living languages
  • Old Dhaka traders for package VAT on essentials to contain inflation
  • 3 arrested for allegedly murdering factory owner over gambling dispute in Old Dhaka
  • Businessman found dead with hands, legs tied in his Old Dhaka residence

A history crash course at a heritage home

A 200-year-old heritage home has opened its doors to visitors

Rupak Khan
25 August, 2020, 12:35 pm
Last modified: 25 August, 2020, 05:15 pm

It's not easy to navigate a car in the Nur Baksh Lane in Old Dhaka but you can always walk to the Zamindar house standing tall at the end of the alley. AM Emran, the descendant of Maulvi Abul Khairat Muhammad, a third generation zamindar of Dhaka and Sonargaon, will greet you with a warm handshake and take you inside his heritage home.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

"When I was a kid, peacocks and deer used to roam here," Emran said, pointing to the six bigha premises of his ancestral property, which has now been shared between the other heirs. Emran started the heritage home in 2018 in his part of the house.

Emran, a retired aviation professional, took us to his living room - perhaps the cornerstone of his heritage home. As soon as we sat on the well cushioned couch, he said, "This couch has seen six generations of my family. So, you're sitting on a 200-year-old couch, give or take."

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Going by Emran's words, this room is essentially a museum. Everything inside this room once belonged to Emran's ancestors, sans the ceiling fan.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

The high ceiling of this house will put most commercial apartments to shame. The airy room is complemented by two Turkish chandeliers along with a century-old relic of the family.

Download/Print Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

The walls are adorned with vintage photographs of Emran's family tree. Utensils of different size and shape are displayed atop a wooden chest.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

A rusty sword is mounted on the wall of Emran's living room. Whose sword was that? "My father's," Emran said as his eyes dilated with nostalgia. Emran promised his father that he would preserve the family home come what may.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

When his father passed away, Emran started hosting guests at his home. "Hospitality is like our second nature. It's a long running family tradition to treat our guests with utmost respect," Emran said.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

A veranda can be accessed from the living room through two doors - both decorated with vibrantly coloured stained glasses. As one leans against the veranda wall, the garden will be in sight. The greenery adds a refreshing spin to the heritage house premise. Emran would be happy to offer you a cup of tea as you contemplate what happened inside this house over the span of two centuries.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

Emran had to build new rooms beside the older ones so that he can accommodate his family of five. Nevertheless, he has made an ironclad pledge that until his last breath, he will not demolish or rebuild this heritage house. The temptation for a high-rise apartment building on his land never entered his mind's radar.

As Emran served us homemade lunch, he also shared bits about the "telescope" shaped dining table. Many historical figures had sat around the table in the past. "Jukta front leaders used to sit here to have their meetings," Emran says as he showed us how the table can be detached in parts, if required.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

Do you serve your guests in old kitchenware that you inherited from your family, we asked. "Since those are fragile and must be kept in good shape, I don't think it would be a good idea to serve the guests on those plates," says Emran. However, he made an exception when a foreign diplomat once requested him to let him dine on an antique plate.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

Emran continued with the tour on the rooftop of his house amidst the tree planters and the smell of simpler times. A few minutes on the rooftop will once again kickstart a montage of the bygone era inside your mind.

The hideous multi-storied buildings stand in silence as this old timer heritage house basks in prestige and glory.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

We asked Emran how can other heritage house owners preserve their homes, just like he did with his. He is rather sentimental regarding this issue. "I tried to save my family's legacy because I made a promise to my father. I expect my children to do the same for me. This is the best way to keep the family history alive," Emran said.

"Other heritage house owners should form an alliance and seek help from the government. There is always a way," he told us.

A reservation for lunch or dinner can be booked at Emran's heritage home through his Facebook page. The best part about visiting this heritage home is that once you walk in, Emran will tell you every bit and piece about his family history.

Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

Taimur Islam, founder and chief executive of Urban Study Group, said, "The heritage homes across the city are in dire need of preservation. AM Emran is very sincere when it comes to upholding heritage. He has set an example for others."

Talking about the architecture of the heritage house, Taimur said Armenian neo-classical style has been incorporated in the design.  

Features / Top News

Nur Baksh Lane / Old Dhaka / AM Emran / Lunch at Emran's Heritage Home / History / historical place

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Infograph: TBS
    New law planned to protect insurance clients as 6 firms embezzle Tk3,736cr
  • Representational image of a self-employed individual. Photo: Unsplash
    Tk100cr fund for youth self-employment on the cards
  • Protesters block army vehicles inside the National Press Club in Dhaka on 18 May 2025. Photo: TBS
    Army assures fair review of ex-armed forces members’ demands under existing rules: ISPR

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: Ashrafun Naher Ananna/TBS
    World’s top universities outside United States 2025
  • Infograph: TBS
    US-Bangladesh FTA talks begin, RMG may see major boost
  • Representational image. Photo: TBS
    India halts import of Bangladeshi garments, processed foods via land ports
  • Nusraat Faria Mazhar. Photo: Noor A Alam/TBS
    Actress Nusraat Faria detained at Dhaka airport over attempted murder case
  • Infographic: TBS
    Nationwide elevated highways in the works to boost mobility, minimise land use
  • Employees of the now-dissolved NBR hold a protest programme in front of the revenue board's HQ on 13 May. Photo: Jahir Rayhan/TBS
    Govt looks for ways to resolve NBR deadlock

Related News

  • Gold becomes costliest in Bangladesh's history as prices hiked for 18th time this year
  • Numerical story of the world's 7,164 living languages
  • Old Dhaka traders for package VAT on essentials to contain inflation
  • 3 arrested for allegedly murdering factory owner over gambling dispute in Old Dhaka
  • Businessman found dead with hands, legs tied in his Old Dhaka residence

Features

PHOTO: Collected

Helmet Hunt: Top 5 half-face helmets that meet international safety standards

16h | Wheels
Photo: Collected

Simple accessories to extend the life of your luggage

16h | Brands
With a growing population, the main areas of Rajshahi city are now often clogged with traffic. Photo: Mahmud Jami

Once a ‘green city’, Rajshahi now struggling to breathe

1d | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Cassettes, cards, and a contactless future: NFC’s expanding role in Bangladesh

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

What is the source of power of billionaire global Muslim leader Agha Khan?

What is the source of power of billionaire global Muslim leader Agha Khan?

9h | Others
News of The Day, 18 MAY 2025

News of The Day, 18 MAY 2025

11h | TBS News of the day
Arab League allies in Baghdad for Gaza

Arab League allies in Baghdad for Gaza

9h | TBS World
India's ban on land-based imports of goods; is this a countermeasure?

India's ban on land-based imports of goods; is this a countermeasure?

10h | Podcast
The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2025 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab