NARAYANGANJ, Bangladesh, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- A replica of Taj Mahal which is still under construction opened to the public Tuesday in Bangladesh's Narayanganj district, about 30 km southeast of capital Dhaka.
Ahsan Ulla Moni, owner of the replica, said he was inspired by Taj Mahal in India when he first visited there in 1980 and had the idea to build one in Bangladesh.
"This is the second Taj Mahal in the world. I am really proud of that," he said.
The designer of the replica is Manik Mia. He is a Bangladeshi architect.
Moni said almost all the materials used in building the replica were imported.
He said the project started in March 2003, and was supposed to finish in March 2009. "We will officially inaugurate the Taj Mahal replica in the Liberation Day on March 26, 2009."
Moni is a businessman, which business covers film producing, cinema and hotel.
Moni invested 4 billion taka (about 57 million U.S. dollars) to build a film city in his hometown in Narayanganj, covering an area of 50 acres (about 20 hectares). Replica of Taj Mahal, which covers an area of 4 acres (about 1.6 hectares), is part of it.
"I plan to shoot a film about the story of Taj Mahal. So I build the replica of Taj Mahal," he said.
"I also hope the landmark construction can attract more tourists from home and abroad," he added.
Taj Mahal replica attracted a lot of people on the first day of opening. Though it is still under construction, people visited it with great interest.
Moni said people can buy ticket with 50 taka (about 71 cents) to visit the place.
The replica of Taj Mahal is the same size with the original one in India. "It will look wonderful after it completes," Moni said.
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