Wari Cemetery of Holy Cross Church

ঢাকার ইতিহাস জানার জন্য চমৎকার একটি স্থান।

This cemetery occupies a very important place in the four hundred years history of Dhaka. But due to lack of proper knowledge today we are forgetting this integral chapter of our very own history.

A signboard inside the cemetery mentions the year of its establishment as 1600. But, this cemetery is believed to have been built in the early seventeenth century. Because it was at that time that the first Portuguese, followed by the Dutch, French, Armenian, Greek and English set foot on the ground of Dhaka for business purposes. And along their way missionaries came to preach the religion. As a result, in a short period of time, Dhaka became full of Europeans.

Many of these Europeans came with the intention of permanent residence in Dhaka. And so, they started building businesses, factories, houses, places of worship, and even educational institutions in Dhaka. They are deeply involved with life in Dhaka. Many people began to take their last breath on the ground of Dhaka.

Next to this burial ground, Dhaka's first church for the Christian community was established, which is now defunct. But when the priest Sebastian Manrique came to Dhaka between 1624 and 1629, he saw the church there. A church located here is also mentioned in the accounts of many other priests and tourists. French traveler Jean Baptiste Tavernier visited Dhaka in 1666 and Niccolò Menucci soon after. They both talked about the church here. So we can assume, the Portuguese Augustinians built the church, and the present burial ground was originally the burial ground adjacent to the church, called in English the Church Graveyard.

The exact location of the Christian Cemetery is at Wari. This is just beside the “Salahuddin Specialized Hospital, Wari”. Also it’s just one minute walking distance from “Baldah Garden“. This place is not publicly available for visit. Only if you have relatives are buried inside the cemetery, you are allowed to enter.

If you notice the Cemetery, you can easily distinguish two different types of architecture of the graves. One part is older one, the holy cross or the pillar beside the grave has baroque style, just like the Greek or roman style. These are older graves, around 200-300 years of old. Other part of the graves are newly build. Most of those are looks like our modern building structure.

This Cemetery is around 400 years of old. At the right side of the Cemetery, you’ll find several tombs, and large stone covered graves. All of them are several hundred years of old. Many of them are almost going to ruin. One of the tomb is of Major General Hamilton Wetch of the Bengal Army, who died on the 11th June 1856. Also there is another one where lies the body of Captain Borthwn, from East India Company, who died at 1769.

Nice

Please keep the sacred place neat and clean.