Narinda Cemetery: Colombo Saheb’s tomb saved from ruin

In the heart of Dhaka, amid the city's relentless pace, a silent grave has reclaimed its dignity.

Known only as Colombo Saheb, the man buried at Narinda Christian Cemetery remains a mystery -- his real name lost to time. Yet his tomb endures, immortalised in one of the earliest visual records of Dhaka: a painting by German artist Johann Zoffany in 1787.

While the city depicted in Zoffany's canvas has transformed beyond recognition, Colombo Saheb's grave has survived -- and now it has been reborn.

Back in 2023, this correspondent found the tomb in a state of near ruin. A sprawling banyan tree had all but consumed it, its roots choking the brickwork and threatening collapse.

Two years on, the scene is strikingly different. The cemetery's main gate has been renovated, and just beyond it stands the restored tomb -- freed from the slow decay that once loomed over it.

The restored monument was officially inaugurated at Dhaka Christian Cemetery in Wari on September 20.

The restoration was led by Professor Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, who said such work demands both patience and precision. "One cannot afford mistakes in a project like this," he said. "The aim was to bring it back to its original design, without adding anything new. To achieve that, me and my team turned to historical records, relying on rare photographs from 1850 and 1875, alongside Zoffany's painting that had first revealed the existence of the grave."

Because the tomb was built during the early years of the Mughal period, traditional techniques were used in its restoration. Brick dust and lime formed the base, while natural binding agents such as lentil paste, jaggery and betel nut resin were applied to ensure authenticity.

"The biggest challenge in renovating the tomb was to remove the huge banyan trees that grew on the dome and remove its peaks, so that there was no structural damage," he said.

The work was costly, made possible by support from international heritage groups. The project was funded by the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia, an organisation that has long worked to preserve old cemeteries across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Later, the Commonwealth Heritage Foundation joined as a partner, ensuring the restoration could be completed.

For the Christian Cemetery Board, the project represents more than the repair of bricks and mortar. "We want future generations to come here not just to see a gate or a few graves, but to feel the depth of history, the soul of the city's heritage," said Father Albert Rosario, the board's vice-chairman.

The story of Colombo Saheb's tomb, however, is only the beginning. Abu Sayeed M Ahmed said talks are already underway to restore fifteen to twenty more tombs and monuments at Narinda.

If completed, he believes the cemetery will no longer be seen simply as a burial ground, but as a cultural park where the city's layered past will be on display.