The house of Bhai Girish Chandra Sen, the first complete Bengali translator of the Holy Quran, is located in Meherpara, adjacent to Dream Holiday Park in Panchdona village of Narsingdi district. As the house was abandoned for a long time, in 2016 the original house structure was reconstructed and opened for visitors with a grant from the Indian Commissioner.
In the renovation of Girish Chandra Sen’s house, along with lime, lime, precious wood and tiles from different parts of the country were used. And the interior of the house is decorated with British period furniture. Besides, a bust with a brief biography of Girish Chandra Sen has been placed in front. A museum (Bhai Girish Chandra Sen Museum) has been built in the house of Girish Chandra Sen. The museum preserves the items used by Girish Chandra Sen, the archeology discovered in the site and the books written by him. Girish Chandra Museum is open to the general public on 6 other days every week except Sunday.
Girish Chandra Sen’s identity
Girish Chandra Sen was born in Panch Dona village of Narsingdi district in 1834. In his private life he was a writer, researcher and linguist. He has researched and translated many books of Islam. Despite belonging to a different religion, Girish Chandra Sen was the first person who showed the courage to translate the Holy Qur’an into Bengali. As a preacher of Brahmo Dharma, he was awarded the title of “Bhai”. Later, he acquired the etymology of Arabic, Persian and was given the title of “Maulvi” as the first translator of the Qur’anic Hadith. Girish Chandra Sen died on 15 August 1910.
How to go
If you want to go to Girish Chandra Sen’s house, you have to come to Panchdona in Narsingdi first. Apart from Meghalaya, several transport buses ply from Gulisthan in Dhaka to Panchdona. From Panchdona you can reach Danga Bazar by CNG or auto and from there you can easily go to Girish Chandra Sen’s house. Again from Mahakhali you can go to Girish Chandra Sen’s house by taking an auto from Mayar Bari junction through Kuril Biswa Road and crossing Kanchan Bridge.