Original Louis Kahn layout of Jatiya Sangsad arrives

Stage set for removal of illegal structures

The original blueprint of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad complex plan by world-renowned architect Louis I Kahn has arrived in Dhaka, paving the way for removal of all unauthorised constructions, including the late president Ziaur Rahman’s tomb, from the sprawling complex.
 When contacted, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury confirmed that the Parliament Secretariat received the layouts of the Jatiya Sangsad complex by Kahn yesterday (Thursday) evening. “Yes, I have seen the documents, but I have not gone through them,” she said. The Speaker further said they would take steps in this regard after going through the layouts. A total of 853 historic layouts of the rare design, including the project of the proposed Aiyubnagar, that was preserved in the archives of Pennsylvania University in the USA reached Sangsad Bhaban yesterday evening.
The additional secretary of the Sangsad Secretariat, AEM Golam Kibria, who received the layouts, told reporters that they have not gone through it minutely.
“The authorities concerned will meet soon and take steps in this regard,” he said. The authorities will start a drive to remove illegal constructions in the Jatiya Sangsad complex, including the tomb of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, according to Parliament Secretariat sources. Earlier, the development activities of the Parliament complex had been

postponed in the absence of a detailed layout plan of the complex. After much effort, the layouts were found in the Pennsylvania University archives and the authorities decided to collect them from the inheritors of Louis I Kahn. As per the decision, a five-member delegation, led by Golam Kibria, went to the USA on May 29 this year and signed an agreement with persons concerned to bring back the design to the country.
After a joint meeting in Parliament on March 29, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, who presided over the meeting, told reporters that the Planning Commission had decided to collect the design and the authorities had taken steps on the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
To locate and brick back the design to Dhaka cost a total of USD 3,550. It contains about 8,000 layouts and documents, but all are not relevant. Of these, 853 designs are required. But there are about 115 other designs that are unbuilt and it would cost more USD 60,000, said the sources.
Parliament Secretariat sources said in the original design by Kahn, prepared in 1974, there was a plan to construct 27 ministries. The design included construction of mosque, garden, a wide road with a lake and Parliament Bhaban. The first phase of the design included construction of Parliament Bhaban on 208 acres, which envisioned vast green space in front and back of the building. The second phase included construction of an administrative and cultural complex, including the Secretariat, library, museum and hospital. But moving away from the original layout, massive changes were made, with a mazar and graveyard on 74 acres at Chandrima Udyan.
Besides, a national graveyard was set up at the south-west corner of the complex on five bighas where seven political leaders were buried. The changes did not stop there, but a petrol pump was constructed opposite Asad Gate in 2001, while residences of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were constructed on the green in a deviation from the original design. Earlier, the housing and public works minister, Mosharraf Hossain, had said they would remove all illegal structures after receiving the layouts of the Parliament complex. At the last meeting of the Sangsad Commission, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had asked for full implementation of the original design.

Original Louis Kahn layout of Jatiya Sangsad arrives

Stage set for removal of illegal structures

The original blueprint of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad complex plan by world-renowned architect Louis I Kahn has arrived in Dhaka, paving the way for removal of all unauthorised constructions, including the late president Ziaur Rahmans tomb, from the sprawling complex. When contacted, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury confirmed that the Parliament Secretariat received the layouts of the Jatiya Sangsad complex by Kahn yesterday (Thursday) evening. Yes, I have seen the documents, but I have not gone through them, she said. The Speaker further said they would take steps in this regard after going through the layouts. A total of 853 historic layouts of the rare design, including the project of the proposed Aiyubnagar, that was preserved in the archives of Pennsylvania University in the USA reached Sangsad Bhaban yesterday evening. The additional secretary of the Sangsad Secretariat, AEM Golam Kibria, who received the layouts, told reporters that they have not gone through it minutely. The authorities concerned will meet soon and take steps in this regard, he said. The authorities will start a drive to remove illegal constructions in the Jatiya Sangsad complex, including the tomb of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, according to Parliament Secretariat sources. Earlier, the development activities of the Parliament complex had been postponed in the absence of a detailed layout plan of the complex. After much effort, the layouts were found in the Pennsylvania University archives and the authorities decided to collect them from the inheritors of Louis I Kahn. As per the decision, a five-member delegation, led by Golam Kibria, went to the USA on May 29 this year and signed an agreement with persons concerned to bring back the design to the country. After a joint meeting in Parliament on March 29, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, who presided over the meeting, told reporters that the Planning Commission had decided to collect the design and the authorities had taken steps on the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. To locate and brick back the design to Dhaka cost a total of USD 3,550. It contains about 8,000 layouts and documents, but all are not relevant. Of these, 853 designs are required. But there are about 115 other designs that are unbuilt and it would cost more USD 60,000, said the sources. Parliament Secretariat sources said in the original design by Kahn, prepared in 1974, there was a plan to construct 27 ministries. The design included construction of mosque, garden, a wide road with a lake and Parliament Bhaban. The first phase of the design included construction of Parliament Bhaban on 208 acres, which envisioned vast green space in front and back of the building. The second phase included construction of an administrative and cultural complex, including the Secretariat, library, museum and hospital. But moving away from the original layout, massive changes were made, with a mazar and graveyard on 74 acres at Chandrima Udyan. Besides, a national graveyard was set up at the south-west corner of the complex on five bighas where seven political leaders were buried. The changes did not stop there, but a petrol pump was constructed opposite Asad Gate in 2001, while residences of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were constructed on the green in a deviation from the original design. Earlier, the housing and public works minister, Mosharraf Hossain, had said they would remove all illegal structures after receiving the layouts of the Parliament complex. At the last meeting of the Sangsad Commission, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had asked for full implementation of the original design.