কেন্দ্রীয় দরবার শরীফ, বাবে মদিনা, দেওয়ানবাগ শরীফ

Occupying a prominent site in the Paltan neighbourhood of central Dhaka, the Central Darbar Sharif of Babe Madina Dewanbagh Sharif serves as the principal gathering place for the devotees of the Dewanbagh tariqa founded by Shaykh Mahbub e Khoda Dewanbaghi, a spiritual guide whose teaching has drawn a substantial following across Bangladesh. The Persian Arabic term darbar sharif, literally the noble court, is applied in South Asia to the residences and shrines of revered spiritual masters where disciples and visitors gather for lessons, dhikr sessions, and communal meals. The prefix babe madina means gate of Madinah and reflects the devotion of the community to the luminous city of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, where his sacred chamber rests within the Masjid an Nabawi. Dhaka itself has been an Islamic cultural centre since the thirteenth century, its skyline once marked by the many mosques built during the Mughal and Nawabi periods, and its scholarly traditions enriched by ulama from across Bengal. Paltan, a busy administrative and commercial quarter close to the national parliament and Bangabandhu stadium, provides the darbar a central urban location easily reached by public transport. The building includes a large prayer hall, a dedicated space for dhikr circles, living quarters for the shaykh and senior students, a library of Islamic texts, and kitchens from which langar meals are distributed to visitors without charge. Programmes include the five daily prayers, a Friday khutbah, weekly majlis on the Prophet's biography, nightly recitation during Ramadan, and large gatherings on the Mawlid and the urs anniversaries of past masters. Women attend through a separate entrance and dedicated hall. The darbar also conducts charitable works in healthcare and education in rural Bangladesh. Visitors approaching Paltan will find the complex easily recognised by its green and gold signage, welcoming atmosphere, and the steady stream of devotees who come seeking spiritual counsel, prayer, and the baraka that has long flowed from this quarter of old Dhaka. Pilgrims travelling from distant districts of Bangladesh arrive here throughout the year seeking counsel, bringing their unresolved questions to the custodians of this quarter.