Illustration: Ashif Ahmed Rudro

Khwaja Ahsanullah (1846-1901), after whose name is the iconic Ahsan Manzil, has come down in history as a philanthropist and social reformer. 

The nawab also cultivated a number of hobbies, such as maintaining zoos. He owned peacock, deer, and many valuable and exotic animals. He had three zoos in Dhaka -- in Begunbari, Dilkhusa, and Shahbagh. 

In fact, he published a press release in a newspaper in 1895, stating that when the animals used to get out of the zoos, people sometimes fired at them for hunting. Nawab Ahsanullah warned in the press release that he would file charges against anyone who caused any harm to these animals.    

Source: Dhaka Samagra- 1 by Muntassir Mamoon