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Solepur Village

Solepur is a small populated village, Located in Bangladesh near Munshiganj district, Sirajdikhan upazila in Kayin Union. Munshiganj is a rich district located in very close to Dhaka, which is known as ancient Bikrampur to many peoples. This district is full of beauty surrounded by archaeological monuments of ancient Bengal, Padma, Ichamati, Dhaleswari rivers. Most of the people in the village are very religious and belong to the Christian Catholic community. This religious village of Solepur consists of 3 villages - Shulpur, Baraihaji, Majidpur and there is a beautiful church located in heart of the 3 villages, named St. Joseph Church. Around Four thousands poeples lives there and About 25% of people are working and living abroad.It is believed that around 1700, during the early days of the East India Company's rule, due to the damming of the Padma River, some Catholic Christians from some neighboring villages of Dhaka district came to Shulpur. Later, in 1862 AD, the 1st church was established with brick surki's gathni and chhan rice. Then 1922 AD Tinsed Church was built. Then in 1962 AD the church was renovated. Later on 11th April 1997 AD Archbishop Michael de Rosario built the present newly built church.The village is also surrounded by greenery and various types of vast Paddy fields.

-Lawrence Thomas Costa (Noren), who is the author of this history, we thank and applaud to the author for giving us the opportunity to know the history of Sulpur.

Solepur is a small populated village, Located in Bangladesh near Munshiganj district, Sirajdikhan upazila in Kayin Union. Munshiganj is a rich district located very close to Dhaka, which is known as ancient Bikrampur to many peoples. This district is full of beauty surrounded by archaeological monuments of ancient Bengal, Padma, Ichamati, Dhaleswari rivers. Most of the people in the village are very religious and belong to the Christian Catholic community. This religious village of Solepur consists of 3 villages - Shulpur, Baraihaji, Majidpur and there is a beautiful church located in heart of the 3 villages, named St. Joseph Church. Around Four thousands poeples lives there and About 25% of people are working and living abroad.It is believed that around 1700, during the early days of the East India Company's rule, due to the damming of the Padma River, some Catholic Christians from some neighboring villages of Dhaka district came to Shulpur. Later, in 1862 AD, the 1st church was established with brick surki's gathni and chhan rice. Then 1922 AD Tinsed Church was built. Then in 1962 AD the church was renovated. Later on 11th April 1997 AD Archbishop Michael de Rosario built the present newly built church.The village is also surrounded by greenery and various types of vast Paddy fields.

Lets find it out The Histry of Solepur Village.How the village of Sholpur was created in this Muslim-dominated city and from where the Christian community spread

In 1571 AD, one a fleet of four ships entered in the Bay of Bengal flying the Portuguese flag. In 1590 AD, a number of Portuguese sailors settled at Sripur from 28 miles south of Sonargaon. At that time Sreepur was the capital and the rulers were Chand Roy and Kendar Roy brothers. As the Portuguese continued to grow in numbers, the Augustinian Fathers who came with the sailors built a church named the Queen of the Rosary here. They started spreading Christianity in that place. Later, when the church of Sreepur was dissolved in the Padma river,after that the Christians spread from there to different parts of the country. Some of them settled in Feringi Bazar of Munshiganj, some in Nawabganj upazila, some in Keraniganj upazila and some in Nayakanda (Baroyhaji) of Sirajdikhan upazila.

In 1612 AD, an agreement was reached between the Portuguese and the Mogs (Burmese) that Mogs would advance by land and the Portuguese by water would come near Dhaka and join forces to attack Dhaka and divide Bengal between them after victory. But the Portuguese came by water and reached Shaista Khan, who threatened them with all kinds of temptations. Like giving land near the capital to lure good jobs and staying with Magadhs will destroy them etc. Thus Shaista Khan was able to draw the Portuguese troops to his side. After the victory of Chittagong, Shaista Khan gave his services to the navy and infantry.

In 1632 AD, the Mughal army razed Hooghly, killing four priests and about 1,000 Christians, including the altar priest. About 5,000 Christians, including Father Joan da Crusoe and Father Emmanuel, were captured and taken to Agra. Several thousand Christians were exiled by the Mughals, including the imprisoned Father Joan da Crusoe. After being trampled under the feet of fierce elephants, they rescued their 1000 prisoners and brought them to 6 ships and dropped them in different parts of India at that time. A church was built here (probably in 1634 AD) as the number of Christians grew rapidly.

Later, when Feringi Bazar area with churches disappeared under Dhaleshwari river, Christians spread to different parts of the country and settled in Nayakanda (Barihaji) in Munshiganj Sadar, Mushurikhola, Keraniganj Upazila and Sirajdikhan Upazila. Among those who came and settled in Nayakanda village are Bhuli Kulu Jamodar Baua Butleru Pirich and Rosario groups. The ancestors of Most Reverend Bishop Joachim Rosario and Most Reverend Archbishop Michael Rosario are said to have come from Feringi Bazar. On the other hand, when the villages like Malikanda Narisha Meghula Dhapari started to be swallowed by the Padmani, from there the Christians migrated to different villages of Nawabganj and Sirajdikhan upazilas. A number of Nagari Mushurikhola and some Sa Chura Bhuiyan Krush and Pirich groups are among them. Later Shulpur Dharmapalli was formed with these three villages of Nayakanda (Barihaji), Shulpur and Majitpur.

A part of the Christians of Shulpur Dharmapalli came from a mixture of Portuguese and South Indians, a second part came from a mixture of Portuguese and natives, a third part came from poor Muslims and low caste Hindu converts, a fourth part came from Nawabganj upazila area and Bhawal region especially as ghar jamai, For this, the present village of Majitpur was once called Jamaikanda.It is not entirely true that Kal converts came from poor Muslims and low-caste Hindus, as the history of Vikrampur reveals that many high-caste Hindus also converted to Christianity voluntarily. For example Surya Kumar Babu, a renowned medical doctor of noble Brahmin descent from Kanksa village under Srinagar thana and son of Jagannath Chowdhury resident of Kayakirtan village under said thana and Purnachandra Bose of noble descent from Malkhannagar village under Sirajdikhan thana and many others.

The main occupation of the people of Shulpur Dharmapalli was agriculture, they had cows full of milk, rice ponds, full of fish. they were very skilled for fishing. Many of them had piles of guns, jaws, and scissors in their homes. For fishing, almost every house had different kinds of nets, poles, shoes, etc. The number of employees in this religious village was also quite significant. Although there is not much opportunity for education here, 100% of the Christians here are literate. Although higher education rates are not significant, 80% of Christians here are secondary school educated. Miss Patal Gomez is the first Bengali Christian woman in the country to receive a B.A. first place in first class. The Christians here are very religious. The Second Bishop of the Catholic Church of Bangladesh and the first Bengali Bishop of Chittagong Province was Most Reverend Bishop Joachim Rosario and the Second Bengali Archbishop of Bangladesh and the first Bengali Bishop of Dinajpur Province was Most Reverend Archbishop Michael Rosario, both from Solepur Paris.

The Christians of Shulpur Dharmapalli were and are always politically conscious. For ages they have held a member position in the local union council. Late Eduardo Rosario (Itu Master) was a renowned social worker, he served with distinction as a member of the Caine Union Parishad and later elected Chairman. He was a member of the Jury Board of the then Munshiganj subdivision.The first member (Member) Pushpa Rosario and the second member (Member) Kancon Gomez have served with credit in the reserved women's seat. In 1954, Mr. Peter Paul Gomez was then a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MLA) of East Pakistan and was elected a Member of the Central Legislative Assembly (MNA) of Pakistan in 1958 and served as Union Minister for Communications in Prime Minister Feroz Khan Noon's Council of Ministers.He was the first Christian Bengali lawyer in the country who made the Christian community proud by advocating in the High Court. Mr. Subodh Rosario was also involved in national politics, contesting the national elections (Member of Parliament) in 1972.

Solepur Dharmapalli has a good reputation in sports. Once Shulpur RCFC in the surrounding upazilas. (Roman Catholic Football Club) was considered a first-class football team. Shulpur Dharmapalli also has a good reputation in playing cricket. Shulpur Dharmapalli cricket team is considered as the first class team among the inter-religious cricket teams due to winning various tournaments.

Solepur Dharmapalli has a good reputation in the cultural arena as well. Renowned dramatist and renowned writer Mr. Nidhan D'Rosario is a gifted child of Shulpur Dharmapalli. The people of Shulpur Dharmapalli organize various cultural programs on their own initiative on religious and national occasions. The central organization “Jagriti Sangh” organizes educational and cultural competitions almost every year to achieve excellence of intellect and mind. Apart from the central organization, there are several Sanghas and Samiti in this Dharmapalli including one Sangha each based on village.

There are so many attractions in Solepu Dhormopolli, Such as Pandit's Vita, Baro Auliar Shrine, Mawa Ferry Ghat and Padma Bridge, Traditional Wood and Tin Houses, Bikrampur Vihar, Bikrampur Museum, Shyamsiddhi Math, Raja Srinath Roy's House, Mawa Resort, Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose's Ancestral House and Memorial Museum, Padmahem Dham, Lalan Akhara, Sonarang Jora Math, Bhagyakul Zamindar Bari, Idrakpur Fort, Sholani Beach, Munshiganj Arial Bill.

If everything is judged, Solepurr Dharmapalli can be said to be a bright star in the sky of the Christian Church of Bangladesh. n 2018, a surprising incident happened here, which created a lot of buzz all around. Suddenly a praying woman saw water running from Jesus' feet in the graveyard. Immediately all the people of the village stormed and saw this amazing event with their own eyes. Later, the name of Shulpur Mission spread around, Christians from far away came here to pray.The current parish priest Father Lintu Costa continues to make many efforts for the development of Sulpur Mission. Thats all about of solepur mission. Bye and take care.

Solepur Village/ RC By -Sujit Prince Gomes