PANAM CITY in Sonargaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Panam City is a abandoned city of the Hindu merchants, just within 10 minutes walking distance from Sonargaon Folk-Arts and Museum. It is the most attractive tourist spot in Sonargaon. Panam City was founded at Sonargaonin early 19th century during British rule in the sub-continent, as a trading center of cotton fabrics. Hindu merchants built their house on this city- 52 houses on a single street. Building style of these houses was influenced by European style with the mixture of traditional Bengal style.

When British left the sub-incontinent dividing it based on religion, Sonargaon fell in the Muslim majority then Pakistan part. During that time there were several religious riots in this area, when these merchants fled to India with their family, leaving their house to the circumstance. Thus this wealthy city was fully abandoned. These caretakers later claimed these houses as their own with forged papers, from whom Bangladesh govt. later acquired the whole city. Panam City is now protected under the archeological department of Bangladesh.

Panam City is the only abandoned city of its kind in the whole world. 52 abandoned houses on the same street looks like a ghost city.

There were two types of building in the Panam City. One was for purely residence and the other was entertainment houses where party used to took place every night with unlimited drinks, dance and singing by Baijis. These houses had a gallery in the middle. The house owner and friends used to watch the performance of the Baijis from the gallery. Panam City is a great place to spend a whole day with family and friends