Shocking demolition of old buildings
Conservationists urge for immediate step to protect buildings with
architectural and historical significance
Tawfique Ali
A number of old buildings with immense architectural and historical
significance in the city's Tantibazar area have recently been marked for
renovation and demolition by their owners, to the utter shock of the
conservationists.
Seven to eight buildings located in the area -- from English Road to
Islampur Road -- are being demolished by private individual owners.
Conservation of historical monuments, architectural heritage sites and
edifices of cultural significance in the capital now largely depends on
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), as the metropolitan building
rules of 2006 entrusted it to make a list of such buildings and sites
and take measures for their conservation.
The building number 28, 32, 27/1 and some more should be conserved by
any standard, as they bear historic testimony to a significant phase of
Dhaka's urban history, said conservationist architect Taimur Islam of
Urban Study Group.
These intricately decorated edifices are roughly 150 years old and
located in Tantibazar and Shankharibazar belonging to the pre-Mughal,
Mughal and colonial era, he said.
cont'd....
http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/04/01/d704012501106.htm