Mona Rai

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With the arrival of Shah Jalal and the Conquest of Sylhet in 1303, Mona Rai was appointed by Govinda as one of the commanders. [4] As Rai was based near the port, he decided to stop river transport and ferries making it difficult for the opponents as the only other option was through the hills. [5] Rai was subsequently killed in the final battle of Gour. [6] Govinda was shocked after hearing of this news and fled with his family and the area came under the rule of Wazir Sikandar Khan Ghazi. [7]

হইল সর্বনাশ একি দায়, না দেখি উপায়,

Hoilo shorbonash eki day, na dekhi upay
হেনকালে শুনল রাজা মৈল মনা রায়।
Henkale shunlo Raja moilo Mona Ray
তখন কোমর কাছিয়া রাজা
Tokhon komor kachhiya Raja
খাড়া হইল আগে
Khara hoilo aage
কিন্তু এবার হৈল লেঠা গড়ুল রাজা

Kintu ebar hoilo letha Gorul Raja

Chowdhury Ghulam Akbar, [8]

Legacy

The hillock which housed Mona Rai's palace is known even today as the hill of Mona Rai (Bengali : মনারায়ের টিলা, romanized: Monarayer Tila) in Chowhatta. [9] It is located next to the dargah of Shah Jalal. [10] [11] Bipin Chandra Pal mentions in his book, "Memories Of My Life And Times", mentions that during his childhood he studied in a government school which was a large brick building standing on top of Mona Rai's Tila. [12] This is backed up by Pandita Ramabai's biography which mentions that she was invited to Sylhet District School, on top of Mona Ray Hill, by a reception committee. [13] During the British Raj, a 0.9 mile by-road was used connecting Sylhet with the hill. This road was named Monarai Tillah Approach Road and housed the Executive Officer's Bungalow in 1948. In 1975, it also housed the buildings for the Roads and Highways Division, Buildings Division and District Judges. [3] The ruins of Rai's fort in Tilagarh is also present. [14]

Mona Rai
1260-1303
Chief Minister of Gour Kingdom
Preceded by Minister of Gour
1260-1303
Succeeded by

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References

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  13. Sengupta, Padmini Sathianadhan (1970). Pandita Ramabai Saraswati: her life and work. Asia Pub. House. p. 71.
  14. Bangladesh District Gazetteers: Sylhet. Bangladesh Government Press. 1975. pp. 184 & 409.