Copycat Version of Taj Mahal in Bangladesh

Replica of Taj Mahal in Bangladesh is located 10 miles east of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka in Sonargaon. It is a scaled copy of the original Taj Mahal Unlike the original work on the building took only five years. A rich Bangladeshi film-maker, Ahsanullah Moni has announced his “Copycat version of Taj Mahal” project at a cost of about USD$ 56 Million in December 2008.  It was built 20 miles northeast of Capital Dhaka. The Replica of Taj Mahal caused bit complaints by some Indian officials. They believe copying Taj Mahal is unethical, and detract visitor from original one. The replica was unlikely to detract from the magnificence of the original and visitors were unlikely to mix up one with the other. A copy is a form of flattery for copyright infringement of the original 350 year old building; however, the Indian High Commission later accepted that the replica was unlikely to detract visitors from the original.

However Ahsanullah Moni said, how he built a replica of the Taj Mahal so that the poor of his nation can realize their dream of seeing neighboring India's famed monument. Therefore, construction work began in 2003, and he said that he came up with the idea in 1980 when he first visited the real Taj in Agra, northern India. He said that his homage had been built because most people living in Bangladesh where nearly half of the population exists below the poverty line and cannot afford to travel to India to see the real Taj Mahal. Everyone dreams about seeing the Taj Mahal but very few Bangladeshis can make the trip because it's too expensive for them.

Mr Ahsanullah Moni first visited the original Taj Mahal in Agra, India in 1980 and after that he has made six return trips. Therefore, he hired a group of architects and sent them to India to get the measurements. However, same marble and stone has used in Replica of Taj Mahal as same in the original Taj. The Replica was made with latest machinery, took less time. Otherwise it would have taken more than 20 years. More interestingly few people visit this site to compare the original Taj Mahal with the artificial one. That intention is to comparing would have very odd and irrational. It is suggested to enjoy & observe the Architectural property of this building rather comparing.