Padamdi Nawab Estate

Padamdi Nawab Estate was established in 1607 by a decree from the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The land to the title was given as a donation to the religious clergy Syed Shah Pahlowan, an immigrant from Iraq.

The family was composed of Muslim preachers and missionaries. But was widely accepted as one of their owns by people from all religions and walks of life. Legends abound the locality even till date about the extra-ordinary powers of the founder of the Estate - Syed Shah Pahlowan - buried in Shikara (a local principality under the Rajbari region). It is important to note that, Hazrat Syed Fateh Ali Shah (locally known as Fateh Ali), one of the kins of Hazrat Syed Shah Pahlowan lies buried in Bogra (a city in the north of Bangladesh). The tomb of Hazrat Fateh Ali Shah is next to the oldest Hindu Temple (dedicated to Goddess Kali) of the city - exemplifying the harmony amongst all religions that the missionaries from the family preached.

Marital ties between the Padamdi Estate and the Estate of Deldwar (situated in Tangail, Bangladesh) have been traced by local historians - which give the family the widest genealogical reach amongst the Muslim gentry of the undivided Bengal.

Situated beside the river Padma (Ganges) in Bangladesh, the Estate produced some of the finest Muslim rulers and writers of the area during the British Raj - during which, most members (including the ruling Nawab) of the family collaborated with the British. Notable coming from the family during the British Raj are Mir Mosharraf Hossain (the first eminent Muslim playwright, famous for his plays - Bishad Shindhu (the River of Sadness), "Jaminder Darpan" (Mirror of the Landlord) and Syed Meer Sirazul Huq.

The members of the Syed family that ruled the estate took two titles simultaneously; Syed for the lineage that they claim goes back to the Prophet of Islam and Meer that was bestowed on them by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan for commanding Mughal Artillery. Syed Shamsul Huq, the heir and the eldest son of Syed Meer Sirazul Huq was the first one from the Estate to earn a commission in the Royal Indian Army in 1941. He served with the Guards (under command of Lt. Col. Langstone) in Lucknow as the "Station Transport Officer" for the duration of the World War II. Syed Shamsul Huq was promoted to the rank of Captain before joining the Civil Service of Pakistan.

The estate was taken by the Government in 1954, after the then Pakistan Government seized all landed estates vide a decree to equitably re-distribute the property to the landless poor ("Praja Swatwa Aieen" - The Law of Land Rights for Peasants). The estate was divided into two Thanas (smallest Administrative Units in Bangladesh) - Baliakandi and Pangsha under the district of Rajbari.

In 1971, members of the Estate actively took part in the War of Liberation for Bangladesh. The heir to the Estate Lt. Col. Syed Ali Imam Al Mamun (son of Syed Shamsul Huq; and then a Captain in the IV Punjab Corps, Pakistan Army) was imprisoned by the Pakistan authorities in the legendary Sagai Fort till 1973 for high treason (in spite of his earlier gallantry service to the Army for capturing "Kaiser-E-Hind" with a battery from the 35 Heavy Artillery Regiment) and also as the Aide-De-Camp of General Bahadur Shah (the IV Corps Commander). The family ruling (and holding much of the landed property still) the Estate produced many distinguished professionals and leaders for the country. Members of the family still serve in the Public Service - Diplomatic Corps - and the Military of Bangladesh and Great Britain.