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'Save heritage sites of Dhaka’

Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a seminar at Drik Gallery in the city yesterday expressed grave concern over the tattered architectural fabric of old Dhaka.
Creating awareness, making a list of important heritage buildings and concerted efforts are the initial steps towards saving the remaining heritage sites of Dhaka on the eve of celebrating its 400years, said the speakers.
A power point presentation by conservation architect Taimur Islam showed how the landscape of many areas of old Dhaka is changing for rapid urbanisation.
Old elegant structures are steadily being replaced by shiny new apartments. Economic benefits of the owners remain a stumbling block in the way of conserving heritage sites, he said.
The historical development of Dhaka saw five significant periods. These are pre-Mughal in 1600, Mughal in 1750, colonial in 1850, post colonial in 1950 and present that started in 1980. The areas of old Dhaka bear the testimony to these periods but now it is the worst affected area of the city, he added.
Area conservation is needed in areas like Shankharibazar. Tantibazar. Farashganj Sutanagar, Amligola and Banryanagar that were residential areas in the Mughal and colonial period. Saving the residential buildings of these areas is like saving concrete evidence of the affluent past of the city, he further added.
“Recently a significant building that we consider as a landmark at Shankharibazar has lost its ornamental look due to ownership-related problems. But we could do little in spite of our involvement in Shankharibazar conservation for a longtime," saidTaimur.
A vital problem in area conserva-
tion or any building conservation.is that most of the heritage properties are priva t e prope rues.
"A high official of Rajuk once asked why am I concerned over properties that belong to others," he said.
Other problems are that conservation is excluded from development discourse, concern for economic benefits, weak legislation and weak governance, he added.
Taimur displayed some models on how transfer of development rights can be applied to save the heritage buildings by providing owners with plots elsewhere or within the compound of their buildings.
“Al least we can save the facade if
we cannot save the whole building" said Dr Enamul Haque, former director general of the national museum
Dr Haque talked about the ripple effect that had been created after he first arranged a visit to the Panam Nagar under the movement of Sanskritik Satyagraha.
Besides, a 10-day photography exhibition displaying 78 pictures of the old heritage buildings of Dhaka is going on at the gallery that will end on July 22. The exhibition also includes eight sketches of Sir Charles Doyle on 18th century Dhaka
Traditional Photo Gallery and HSBC Bangladesh jointly organised the programme.