Spoiling Kahn's masterpiece
Shumi, Khulna University, Khulna
We welcome the HC verdict regarding the JS Complex. By implication, anything added to it bypassing Kahn's master plan over 850 acres of land is illegal. The DS editorial on the subject (23/6/04) indicates conflicting interests of parties involved in the matter. The residences of the speaker and the deputy speaker are relatively a minor deviation from Kahn's last document but we tend to ignore major violations as has been pointed out by DS reports (22 and 23/6/04) on the above subject. The following are the major violations of the 1973 master plan: Prime Minister's Residence (1974); Hospital Complex (1982-2000); Bangladesh-China Friendship Centre demolishing Kahn's only tower building (1999); Children's Park in Shaymoli corner (1988); Resident Mission of ADB (2004) and so on. The Agriculture University that stands in the middle of Kahn's planned area was supposed to be removed somewhere else at the first opportunity, but contrary to that this is expanding day by day ignoring Kahn's vision in all the master plans prepared sequentially from 1963 to 1973. I believe when we stand for something we should be thoroughly consistent and not selective; otherwise it gives wrong signals.***HC verdict on JS complex It is nice to see a HC judgement honouring public sentiment. I guess there are many bigger violations of the master plan than the one under litigation. If we are sincere in preserving the plan we should work for its total realisation, instead of going for its piecemeal implementation. Partial acceptance of a thing amounts to deviation. Z Islam, Monipuripara, Dhaka
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. PHOTO: STAR |
