The Famouse Mugal Cannon:Bibi Marium

See the location of Cannon Bibi Marium in Dhaka

The huge cannon (kamaan) at the Ramna Osmani Udyan Dhaka known as Mir Jumla’s "Bibi Mariam" weighing 64814 pounds, was first installed at the entrance of Bara Katra at Swarighat by the Mughul Subedar of Bengal Mir Jumla. At the time of his conquest of Assam, Mir Jumla sent this cannon to Dhaka. Later in 1832 during British rule, the then collector of Dhaka, Mr.Walter transported the cannon from Swarighat to Chawk Bazar. The photo (pic 5) of the cannon taken by Johnston and Hoffman in 1880 shows the market in front the famous Chawkbazar Mosque. In 1917, the then director of National Museum Dhaka made an attempt to shift the cannon to Sadarghat and at a later stage was installed at Sadarghat river bank over masonry platform. The local people, especially the Hindu women used to pay tribute to this cannon by offering milk, flowers and vermilion (sindur) on the belief that fueled the practice of treating the cannon as an icon of power. Afterwards in 1957, Dhaka Improvement Trust chairperson Mr. G A Madani with the aid of Pakistani Military engineers moved the cannon to place it at the road junction of DIT Avenue and Bangabandhu Avenue (Jinnah Avenue) facing the Gulistan cinema. In late ‘80’s when the place became too crowded and traffic increased, the cannon was moved to its present place in Osmani Udyan. Subedar Mir Jumla brought another huge cannon called "Kale Jomjom" to Dhaka that got drowned in the Buriganga river. It is said with a hint of superstition that a roar is often heard coming from the direction of the river for its partner Bibi Mariam.