Gazette notification soon
Tawfique Ali
The government is all set to publish a gazette notification within next week to urgently conserve around one hundred buildings and sites that are parts of the country’s national heritage in the capital.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), to this effect, sent the gazette notification on Tuesday to the government press for publication, sources said.
Once the gazette is published no enlisted heritage property can be demolished, reconstructed, altered, and modified in the name of development without approval of the government’s Nagar Unnyan Committee (NUC). The public and works secretary heads the high-powered NUC.
A standing committee, formed by the NUC on June 23 last with the government’s chief architect as its convenor, submitted its first-phase list of 93 heritage buildings and four areas in the 400-years-old capital city to the works ministry on December 4.
The NUC at its meeting on December 28 decided that Rajuk would publish the notification immediately. But the Rajuk delayed in doing so thinking that publication of the notification might make the job of its special committee difficult.
Dhaka Metropolitan Building Rules of 2008 requires approval of the special committee to implement any sort of land development and construction within 250-metre radius of a listed heritage site.
The NUC at its January 28 meeting again urged the authorities to publish the notification immediately.
Chief Architect ASM Ismail said, “Rajuk was supposed to publish the notification the next day.”
Mubasshar Hussain, president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh and a member of NUC said that the committee agreed to review its condition of restricting construction work within the 250-metre radius of the heritage site.
The committee might take into consideration the uniqueness of a particular area rather than imposing the condition in general.
The authorities are thinking of introducing Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) to compensate the private owners affected due to his property being enlisted as heritage property, he said.
A certificate by means of the TDR will be issued to the affected private owners enabling him to transfer the development right to a certain area.
A person may still retain the heritage property under his or her ownership but will not be able to develop or alter it.
The Department of Archaeology (DOA) may enlist a historic or archaeological edifice only if it is 100-years-old.
The standing committee of NUC was mandated to enlist a heritage site given its historical, aesthetic, scientific, social and cultural, religious and political significance even if it is not 100-years-old.
Buildings to be included in the gazette notification in old Dhaka are: Binat Bibi Mosque, Bara Katra, Chhoto Katra, Lalbag Fort Complex, Nimtoli Dewri, Kartalab Khan Mosque, Khan Muhammad Mirdha Mosque, Shaista Khan Mosque, Gol Talab (pond), Buckland Bundh, Christian Cemetery, Hosaini Dalan, Dhakeshwari Temple, Joykali Temple and Ram Sita Temple, Armenian Church, Bara Dayra Sharif, Star Mosque, Bangshal Jame Mosque, North Brooke Hall, Kasaituli Mosque, St. Thomas Church, St. Gregory’s Church, Radha Govinda Temple at Mill Barrack, Shashan Temple at Banianagar, Radha Govinda Temple (Sutrapur), Ram Sita Temple (Amligola), Tomb of Daroga Amiruddin, Gouri Moth, Ramkrishna Mission, Nawab Bari Mosque (close to Rajuk Bhaban), Bahadur Shah Park, Water Tank (at Bahadur Shah park), Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Shusila Kuthir, Brahmosamaj Temple, Raja Ram Mohan Library, Ruplal House, Ahsan Manjil, Mitford Hospital (old three buildings), Weiz House (Weisghat), Rose Garden, Shankhanidi Palace, Iskon Mandir, St Gregory’s School, Pogose School, Manuk House (Bangha Bhaban), Balda Garden, Jagannath University Admin Building, Buildings at plots 7-9 (Koilash Ghosh Lane), building no-28 (Utsob Poddar Lane), buildings no. 8, 8/1, 8/2 (Jhulan Bari Lane), Dhaka Medical College (Arts Building, Hospital Building, Gate Houses),
Dhaka University campus: Vice Chancellor’s Residence, Madhur Canteen, Twin Hindu Math (TSC), Curzon Hall, FH Hall, SM Hall at DU, Jagannath Hall, Mir Jumla Gate (Dhaka Gate, Doel Chottar), Shikh Guru Duara, Greek Memorial, Burdwan House (Bangla Academy), Faculty of Fine Arts (Art College), University Central Library and Kendrio Shahid Minar.
Other structures: Mughal Eidgah (Dhanmondi), Satgambuj Mosque (Mohammadpur), Unknown Tomb at Banshbari (Mohammadpur), Shahbaz Khan Mosque and Tomb (Old High Court Area), Holy Rozario Church (Tejgaon), Dewanbari Complex and Mosque (Aminbazar), Ambar Shah Mosque (Karwan Bazar), Bhuiyan Bari Mosque (Beraid), Kalibari (Siddheswari), Archbishop House and Church (Kakrail), Race Course Gallery (Suhrawardy Udyan), Old High Court Building, Chummery House (Topkhana Road), Govt Employees Hospital (Fulbari), Rashid Bhaban (BUET), Foreign Ministry (Segunbagicha), Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Complex, NAEM (Education Extension Centre, Dhanmondi), Kamalapur Railway Station, residence no- 301-B (Road 24, Dhanmondi), Shahid Buddijibi Smrithisoudha (Mirpur), Rayer Bazar Badya Bhumi Smriti Soudha, Bangabandhu Museum (Dhanmondi), Rajuk Bhaban, Nagar Bhaban (DCC).
Roads, lanes, and open spaces are: Hrishi Kesh Das Road, Rebati Mohan Das Road, BK Das Road, Farashganj Road in Farashganj, Shakhari Bazar and Panitola in Shakharibazar, Pyari Das Road and Hemenda Das Road in Sutrapur, Baily Road, Minto Road, Hare Road and Park Avenue in Ramna.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
