Islamic Art portrays the artistic creation of
Islamic culture. Mosques and other monuments’ decoration with terracotta
architectural ornaments had continued during the Muslim rule in Bengal. A
collection of unearthed sand stone architectural members such as pier, base
stone, lintel, capital, turret, miharab, inscription and terracotta
embellishments are mentionable. Five stone inscriptions constitute our
collection of epigraphs. These materials and inscriptions illustrate the
architectural style of the Sultanate and the Mughal periods.
Coins constitute important source materials for
reconstruction of the history, particularly in Bengal. The museum has procured
a fairly good number of the ancient and medieval coins —- about one thousand
silver and copper coins, brass seals and medals. Furthermore, a little hoard of
gold coin is consisted of three coins of Islamic Period, nine coins of Gupta
period and one punch marked coin. One of the gold coins was issued in Hijri
77/AD 696 by Abdul Malik bin Marwan, an Umayyad Caliph, which was found in
Hajiganj of Chandpur. We have published a separate catalogue of coins in our
cabinet collected up to 1979 prepared by Prof Dr. Abdul Karim.
The arms and armament collection in this museum
are only 21 in number. Cannons played an important role in medieval warfare.
Chittagong University Museum own one precious inscribed brass/bronze cannon of
Shah Jahan. A fortunate stroke of serendipity was favoured by getting it
through Karimunnesa Begum of Chittagong, a wife of Mughal officer. Other
inscribed Bengal cannon marked with two fish symbols; one iron naval cannon and
several medieval swords, and shields are also exclusive among the collections.
Various types of Arabic calligraphy, hand written copy of the Holy Quran, medieval
literature (Puthi) and photographs of the country’s historical Mosques are also
placed in the gallery.
