17th century

The history of Ramna starts about 1610 CE during Mughal rule, when the city of Dhaka was founded by Subehdar Islam Khan under Emperor Jahangir. At that time two beautiful residential areas were developed in the northern suburb of Dhaka city. New residential houses, gardens, mosques, tombs and temples were built in this area during that period. After the fall of the Mughal rule, Ramna gradually lost much of its glory. Ramna was then a barren area with bushes, abandoned or dilapidated buildings, tombs and old temples.

19th century

Ramna area began to regain its glory since 1825, when Mr. Dowes, a British collector of Dhaka initiated a series of steps for development of the city. Engaging convicts, he cleared up the bushes and demolished most tombs and monuments except the Ramna Kali Mandir. The old mosque and tomb that now stand by the western side of old High Court building were spared. The renovated area was given the name of Ramna Green and was fenced by a boundary for using it as a race course. In 1908 he began the work of a garden that took 20 years to take a shape.

The Nawabs of Dhaka developed the racecourse area as a beautiful garden and named a part of it as Shahbagh, the royal garden. The Nawabs also set up a zoo at Ramna. In 1851, the European civil servants established the Dhaka Club on the northern corner of the racecourse and after the Partition a good number of beautiful residential houses were built at Minto road area for the High Court judges and top bureaucrats.

20th century

After creation of Pakistan in 1947, Ramna area continued to occupy an important place in the history of Dhaka city. A new road from Shahbagh to the Eden Building was constructed, and the eastern side of the road was developed as the Ramna Park. A miniature zoo with a few animals and different kinds of birds was left there, at the northeastern side of the present Supreme Court of Bangladesh building and was later moved to the present location at Mirpur.

Ramna Park was officially inaugurated in 1949 with an area of 88.50 acres (358,100 m²) of land with 71 species of plants. The large open spaces on the southwest facing the lake were used for holding National Fairs and Exhibitions. In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II was accorded a rousing civic reception at the Ramna Park with display of local fireworks. A raised concrete platform was built for the Queen, the remnants of which can still be seen in the park close to the lake.

Walkway through the park.

The present landscape of Ramna Park was designed in 1952 by the Public Works Department of Bangladesh (former C&B Department). The lake was excavated deeper and extended in length. Walkways and garden paths were built in phases as, sections were regraded and replanted. Irrigation of the rare variety of tree saplings was done by tree wells, with deep vertical tubes/watering pipes to encourage roots to grow deeply. A bud-shaped water tower to supply them was built on the park's northern side.

On the night of 25 March 1971, the Pakistani Army launched its violent campaign against the civilian population of Dhaka. The Ramna Kali Mandir and the neighbouring Maa Anandamoyee Ashram were demolished and more than 200 Hindus who had taken refuge inside were massacred.

Plants and Trees^[3]

Hijol (Barringtonia acutangula)

Sonalu (Cassia fistula)

Radhachura (Caesalpinia pulcherima)

Bokul (Mimusops elengi)

Kamini (Murraya paniculata)

Kathgolap (Plumeria)

Sheuli (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis)

Shimul (Bombax ceiba)

Kodom (Neolamarckia cadamba)

Jarul (Lagerstroemia speciosa)

Shephaly (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis)

Polash (Butea monosperma)

Akashmoni (Acacia moniliformis)

Chapa (Magnolia champaca)

GolapiSonalu (Cassia bakeriana)

Aparajita (Clitoria ternatea)

Togor (Tabernaemontana divaricata)

Rangan (Ixora coccinea)

Konokchura(Peltophorum pterocarpum)

Mohua (Madhuca indica)

Raktochandan (Adenanthera pavonina)

Golap (Rosa damascenes)

Sada Kanchan (Bauhinia acuminata)

Gada (Tagetes patula)

Bagan Bilash (Bougainvillea glabra)

Lazzabati (Mimosa diplotricha)

Kathalichapa (Artabotryshexa petalus)

Morogphul (Celosia cristata)

Botamphul (Gomphrena globosa)

Sarnalata (Cuscuta reflexa)

Lal-golapiSonalu (Cassia roxburghii)

Hasnahena (Cestrum nocturnum)

Raktakanchan (Bauhinia purpurea)

Jaba (Hibiscus mutabilis)

Patabahar (Codiaeum variegatum)

Gateful (Ipomoea quamoclit)

Chandramallika (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

Dutra (Datura metel)

Rakta Kusum (Grewia tiliifolia)

Jui (Jasminum auriculatum)

Malatilata (Aganosma dichotoma)

Chameli (Jasminum gradiflorum)

Lalkanchan (Bauhinia variegate)

Beli (Jasminum sambac)

Anantalata (Antigonon leptopus)

Bhuichapa (Kaemperia rotunda)

Dolon Chapa (Hedychium coronarium)

Mohua (Madhuca indica)

Sandhyamalati (Mirabilis jalapa)

Kathchapa (Pavetta indica)

Sharna Chapa (Michelia champaca)

RaktaKarobi (Nerium oleander)

Uday Champa (Magnolia grandiflora)

Keya (Pandanus foetidus)

Sadakanchan(Bauhinia acuminate)

Krishnochura (Delonix regia)

DuliChampa (Magnolia pterocarpa)

etc.^[4]