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Is it necessary to demolish the old historical buildings of Azimpur Govt. Quarters to construct new buildings?
Professor Haroon ur Rashid speaks to DOT :
The Azimpur Govt. Quarters is one of the earliest public housing schemes in Bangladesh, which is a historical creation designed by the renowned Architect Mazharul Islam. Recently the government is demolishing these historical buildings with the purpose of constructing new multistoried buildings.
But, is it necessary to demolish these old historical buildings to construct new buildings? Are we demolishing our historical creations through this as well?
In this regard, Daily Our Time spoke to Architect Haroon ur Rashid. He said, “buildings have cultural & historical values. The oldest constructions are kind of heritage of this country. These represent the style of the particular period.” He added that the buildings with historical value may be kept as heritage.The government may continue necessary construction projects in a place between the buildings. If all the old buildings are demolished in such way to construct new building, we may loss our historical records in this field. He referred that in abroad there are many countries who are very much concerned about keeping their old constructions and creatures as their tradition. According to Architect Rashid reconstruction is a regular process. The buildings which are very weak in structure and character may be reconstructed. But in case of Azimpur Government Quarter the government may think in some other way. This area has many places in between the buildings to construct new building. Perhaps it is not the correct way to go about doing this. It may cause loss of our history. In his opinion architecture is the physical record of history.
Is response to the question that are we paying due respect to Architect Mazharul Islam and have we recognized his works properly; Architect Rashid replied that we could not pay due respect to his works. Many of his works have been just destroyed before us. For example; Nagar Hospital, Gono Shastho Kendra etc. He has designed many important constructions like Faculty of Fine Arts, the Central Library and the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) of Dhaka University, Chattogram University and Jahangirnagar University. He referred Bogra Polytechnique Institute designed by Architect Islam which is being extended by the authority on their own wish.
According to Architect Haroon ur Rashid, “new construction or reconstruction or extension of building may take place. But the new comers have to show due respect to the elders before doing that.” This lack of recognition is not good for this field. There is a gap between the society of architects and the concern wings of government. This gap causes the lack of recognition and acknowledgement of works as well.
Professor Haroon ur Rashid is an academic and architect , Interviewed by Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed, Executive Editor, Daily Our Time.