A historic moment in Dhaka...the first ever demolition of a highrise in the city is in progress! I thought that, in light of this milestone, the event deserved its own thread...pics are by Ershad Ahmed (http://dhakadailyphoto.blogspot.com).

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/tanzirian/rangs1.jpg
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http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r94/tanzirian/rangs3.jpg
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Its great news that they are bringing it down. Hopefully they start taring down more illegal buildings built by corporations, businesses have responsibility to the country. However I heard that the bottom 6 floors are still gonna remain. Is that gonna be permanent or are they going down too?

Its great news that they are bringing it down. Hopefully they start taring down more illegal buildings built by corporations, businesses have responsibility to the country. However I heard that the bottom 6 floors are still gonna remain. Is that gonna be permanent or are they going down too?

The bottom 6 are going to remain? Can anyone confirm this? What would be the point of tearing down the rest of the building then? I thought the whole idea was to make it possible to extend Bijoy Sarani per Dhaka masterplan...how would a 6 storey building be less of an obstacle?

The bottom 6 are going to remain? Can anyone confirm this? What would be the point of tearing down the rest of the building then? I thought the whole idea was to make it possible to extend Bijoy Sarani per Dhaka masterplan...how would a 6 storey building be less of an obstacle?

welcome back Tan...
hei dont get so confused...theres no big fuss over it. and your idea about the road is also right.

Q. The bottom 6 are going to remain? Can anyone confirm this?
A. Yes, the bottom 6 are going to remain at this stage. Why? Well, they had permission of 6 floors only. So only the illegal part of the building (floors 7-22) are being demolished.

Q.However I heard that the bottom 6 floors are still gonna remain. Is that gonna be permanent or are they going down too?
A. For the proposed road, thats another process of acquisition. So one process is all about demolition of illegal stuffs and the other process is about acquiring lands needed.And for latter one, Gov ll ve to take care of a lot more land-owners for acquisition of their lands. There are some 150 houses behind Rangs Bhavan. And all of these land owners 've already expressed their loyalty to the Govt by saying, if Govt compensates they will be moving.

So once the first process is completed, the Govt will acquire all these lands (along with the land occupied by the then 6-storied Rangs) and start construction of the road. According to TV news last night, they plan to finish acquistion within one year next, and the road within two years.:)

^^ Tareq the answer man!

Like many people I have a mix of feelings about this demolition. On one hand, yes, illegal construction should be punished and in the long run, an extended Bijoy Sarani (potentially lined with highrises) sounds terrific. On the other hand, as a skyscraper fan, its sad to see a prominent and attractive highrise head to the scrapheap.

BTW what's next...BGMEA building?

even BGMEA is gonna be demolished? what the?

even BGMEA is gonna be demolished? what the?

There had been some talk of it. Several buildings are built illegally (or through shady deals) on landfill of Hatirjheel. Per city masterplan this lake (the one next to Hotel Sonargaon) was supposed to provide drainage for water and help reduce flooding. Some of the structures / properties under question include - BGMEA, Hotel Sonargaon extension, Hotel Hilton site, BTMA building, and land of Brac / Aarong.

It's very hard for all of us to watch this beautiful building being brought down. We must understand that dishonesty must be discouraged at any cost. Dishonesty is a cancer like disease. We are good people - we deserve good government and good business environment.

thanks for the answer tareq. It pretty much answered all the follow up questions i would have had :).

And as for demolishing buildings that ar built upon drainage areas, this is one thing I absolutely and fully support, no matter how nice the buildings are. Have proper drainage for rains, especially in a monsoon region flood prone city like Dhaka is crucial for its future. You definitely have to think in the long term on this issue. Do you want an ugly dirty city that floods regularly, or do you want a beautiful city full of parks and lakes that is able to deal with the problem of floods effectively encouraging more investment and the building of higher quality buildings built in a planned fashion.

This made sense to me...so I am posting it here


Letters to Editor


High-rise buildings
Habibul Haque Khondker, On e-mail

This may be a bad time to write a letter defending the high-rise buildings that are on the hit list of the Rajuk demolition team when the mood of destruction is in the air. Before taking out more high-rise buildings, please consider the following points.
1. The old airport is no longer used as a functional airport. In fact, if used as an airport so close to heavily populated areas it may be a public safety hazard itself. (Not to mention air and noise pollution). So rather than removing tall buildings, decommission the old airport and restrict its use as a helicopter pad and as an emergency runway.

2. The high-rise buildings on the hit list were apparently built "illegally". Sure. But that means many Rajuk officials who are not usually the best examples of honesty were complicit. So any retribution should be dealt with in an even-handed manner.

In a season of calamity anger is not the best option. Besides, if the government can allow the so-called black money to be whitened, why can't illegal buildings (as long as they are safe and pose no threat to public interest) be legalised?

Source:http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/08/06/d70806110176.htm

I seriously dont think destroying national assets worth hundreds of crores to implement some LAW that has little relevance to reality is a good idea.I agree with the demolition of Rangs bhaban,for a road is supposed to go through there.But as for plans of destroying some other building,I would say more sense needs to be applied on the issue .Rajuk warned of plans to move every single commercial business out of Dhanmondi,Gulshan a few months back..and it failed terribily.I hope and believe that the same will happen to this stupid plan of cutting down height of some buildings for no good reason.

^^ I agree with you Mirza. When this whole issue came up a few months ago I thought it would be appropriate for the buildings to be torn down. But that is a loss of a great deal of domestic investment. For me a better alternative would be to confiscate the buildings from their owners or charge them a hefty fee. This money could then be used to cover expenses for projects related to the presence of these structures...for example, rent from Rangs could have been used to fund a bypass for Bijoy Sarani around the building. It may be too late for Rangs but I think the govt could consider alternative modes of punishment for the other structures in question.

There had been some talk of it. Several buildings are built illegally (or through shady deals) on landfill of Hatirjheel. Per city masterplan this lake (the one next to Hotel Sonargaon) was supposed to provide drainage for water and help reduce flooding. Some of the structures / properties under question include - BGMEA, Hotel Sonargaon extension, Hotel Hilton site, BTMA building, and land of Brac / Aarong.
then bro if they start demolishing all of them.... its gonna be a big loss for dhaka:bash:

OK guys... you have convinced me. We should save the beautiful buildings we have. But..... there must be tough punishment for this kind of crimes. Emphasis on the word "tough" - so tough that they will never even think about stealing from us. Possible? Tough tough tough..........

Someone put it in better words, please.

ACTION AGAINST UNAUTHORISED BUILDINGS, HIGH RISES
Rajuk suspends move to review list

The move to go for action against buildings and high rises, constructed flouting the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh rules, has been suspended following a decision to review the list of the structures before action.

A nine-member committee, headed by a joint secretary of the civil aviation ministry, which was formed on Tuesday, will review the list of the buildings.

‘We had issued notices giving the owners of 142 buildings and high rises one month to three and half months time to pull down themselves the upper
portion of their buildings constructed illegally,’ said a

Rajuk official, adding ‘The move has been suspended following the government decision to review the list before going for action.’

Rajuk in the middle of August issued the notices to the owners of 97 buildings and 45 high rises.

In 2005, the city planner had made a list of 111 buildings and high rises, constructed flouting the CAAB rules, and later included 32 more buildings in it. Of the first list, upper floors of one of the high rises, 22-storey Rangs Bhaban, is being demolished following a court order that had declared construction above the sixth floor as illegal.

The high-powered committee, formed in Tuesday’s inter-ministerial meeting chaired by the housing and public works secretary ASM Rashidul Hai, comprises a representative of each Rajuk, law ministry, CAAB and Bangladesh Air force and four owners of high rises, said the Rajuk chairman, KAM Haroon.

The move to take action against any high rises or buildings will remain suspended till the committee completes reviewing the list, he said.

The buildings and high rises were constructed in violation of the CAAB rules posing threat to the landing and take-off at Zia International Airport and Tejgaon Airport, said a CAAB official.

Rajuk in 2005 identified 111 structures, including 46 high rises, prominent among which are Rangs Bhaban, Grameen Bank Tower, Basudhara Tower, IDB Bhaban, BRAC Centre, Iqbal Centre, Karnaphuli Garden City, Twin Tower and Navana Tower. The structures were constructed in violation of the CAAB height restriction rules.

The city planner in August 2005 had taken an initiative to demolish 17 buildings. Seven of the buildings could not be torn down due to legal disputes while the unauthorised portion of 10 buildings was dismantled.

According to the regulation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the height of buildings and other structures is restricted to a certain level around the airports for prevention of an accidents and smooth operation of the flights.

CAAB officials said that each building in the city should be built only after getting clearance from CAAB, and Rajuk should not approve any plan without its clearance.

According to ICAO regulations, an area of 3,000 feet from each end of a runway should be ‘zero-height’ area, and after that one foot of height is allowed for each 50 foot of distance, till a distance of 10,500 feet from both ends of the runway. But no structure shall cross a height of 150 feet within the area, say the regulations.

The high rises, beyond 150-foot CAAB limit, at Mohakhali identified by Rajuk are Civil Engineering Ltd (215 feet), Central Properties Ltd (175), Rupayan Centre (255 feet), Nitol Centre (235), Pacific Centre (190 feet), Khwaja Tower (170 feet), BRAC Centre, (210 feet), Red Crescent Tower (200 feet) and Aarong House (210 feet).

Awal Tower (250 feet), Iqbal Centre (190 feet), Priyangan (200 feet), Ataturk Tower (250 feet), Buloshan Tower (210 feet), Delta Dalia Tower (220 feet), and Dream Arcade Tower (190 feet) are situated on Kemal Ataturk Avenue.

Silver Tower (250 feet), Navana Tower (280 feet), Unique Hotel and Resorts (250 feet) are in Gulshan-2; BSRS Bhaban (200 feet), TK Bhaban (210 feet), Borak Tower (210 feet), Sonartari Tower (200 feet) are in Karwan Bazaar; Grameen Bank Tower (220 feet) is in Mirpur-2; and Eastern Rokeya Tower (210 feet) is in Bara Moghbazar.

Some other problematic buildings are the 110-foot Olympia Tower at Monipuripara, which should be about 50 feet high, the 100-foot Amin Tower in the same area should be 65 feet high, the 220-foot IDB Bhaban at Agargaon should be 100 feet high, the 120-foot Youth Tower in Shewrapara should be 80 feet high, the 115-foot Outright Fashion on Rokeya Sarani should be 80 feet high, the 230-foot Twin Tower at Chameli Bagh should be 160 feet high, the 210-foot Karnaphuli Garden City at Kakrail should be 180 feet high, the 200-foot Harding Enterprise at Karwan Bazaar should be 140 feet high, the 130-foot Malek Tower at Tejkunipara should be 70 feet high, the 150-foot Rangs Bhaban on Puratan Biman Bandar Sarak should be 60 feet high, the 160-foot Centre Point Concord Tower at Tejkunipara should be 70 feet high, the 170-foot Progati Rhone Pulak Royal Centre at Karwan Bazaar should be 140 feet high, Nure Alam Siddiky’s 70-foot building in Purba Senpara should be 40 feet high, Abdur Rahim’s 130-foot building at 121/3, Tejkunipara should be 75 feet high, and Abu Ashraf’s 80-foot building at Purana Biman Bandar should be 40 feet high.

Kazi Rafiqul Islam’s 90-foot building at Ka-119/A, Kuril, Badda should be 50 feet high, Al-hera Tower at Kha-86/1-A, Kuril, Badda should be of less height that it is now, the 115-foot Kazi Tower at 57/1, Kuril, Progoti Sarani should be 80 feet high, Kazi Ahsan Ullah’s 80-foot building at plot-48, road 10, Sector-14, Uttara should be 40 feet high.
http://www.newagebd.com/nat.html

Bangladesh must be the only country in the world where you can't legally build a tall structure. This is a joke. Why is CAAB so special that no one can build any tall building anywhere in the city? Airports in North America are sorrounded by highrises and they have no problem with it. Only the aircrafts flying in and out of Dhaka have problems with it. If they decide to demolish another high rise it would be really sad and upsetting.

^^ On another note, one remarkable thing about that article, is that it mentions actual building heights! People in every other country can know the heights of their tallest buildings if they want to, but for some reason that information is not readily available to anyone from BD.

I have been opposed to the demolition of Rangs building from day one. What was the intent and purpose? What are we gaining from this expensive operation? It surely isn't to construct a road linking Bijoy Sarani to wherever. If it was then they would have demolished the entire building and not leave first 6 floors intact. From what I know the owner of Rangs building even offered to provide the land for the construction of that road. What else? Tejgaon airport? As far as I know that airport is abandoned. I have not seen any commercial or military aircraft use that airport in a long time. If it's because the Air Force still using it then the onus is on them to move out of the city. Once again you cannot punish people living in the city because you are too dumb to not move your establishments out of the city. How can Tejgaon airport still be used when it is situated smack down in the middle of the city? If anything it's the airport that should be demolished.

The people of Dhaka are tired of this caretaker government. Everyone I talked to expressed their displeasure and dissatisfaction of this government. The idea sounded good at the begining but their recent and continuing questionable moves bring in a lot of doubts. I for one am very upset with them.

^^ The intention behind demolition is good...being that people in our country have a habit of routinely breaking laws as it suits them...this was meant to serve as an example. If you read post Tareq's post (#4), the plan is in fact to eventually demolish the whole building (not just upper floors) and extend the road. There are two problems as I see it...first, a poor country like ours cannot afford the destruction of so much infrastructure, which represents the investment of a large amount of capital. Alternate methods of punishment should have explored, such as fines, or confiscation of the property, which could have provided alternate methods of financing a bypass or overpass for Bijoy Sarani. Second problem is that the caretaker govt, however well intentioned, is trying to do too much in too short a period of time. According to the constitution, their duty is to hold free and fair elections...but instead of doing just that, they are trying to change everything all at once. If they abide by their own promise and resign next year then they will leave behind a slew of unfinished undertakings. For example, if they tear down Rangs Bhaban, but then next year a govt friendly to Rangs comes to power, or a govt who does not have the same intent of extending Bijoy Sarani, then all this may be for nothing.

that's what I was saying all along. Why not fine them? Why not put the owner of Rangs in Jail? We simply cannot afford to destroy a perfectly fine building just to set an example.

^^ If we were a richer country then it might not have been an issue...it can certainly be argued that it is much more complicated to build a bypass or overpass than to tear down the building. But again I think we as a nation can ill afford the loss of so much investment at this stage in our development. Perhaps the military influence has something to do with the current philosophy...in military justice, when you don't like something, you blow it up :D

Demolition of any other building will be unacceptable and outrageous!Why the hell cant anyone build any building above 150 feet according to the rules?These CAAB guys want to fly low or something??Banani,Shantinagar,Moghbazar,Mohakhali and such places are REALLY FAR from any airport...why in the world do these people want to reduce heights of buildings there making BD suffer losses of thousands of crores??I dont believe they will ever be able to implement these plans.It took them months to dismantle a part of one building...and now they think they can demolish a hundred others..Hah!I sincerely hope they review CAAB height restrictions instead of reviewing the list of buildings.

we will see what happens. Let's not jump to any conclusions quite yet. How can this government take actions against these people when they themselves are illegal?

we will see what happens. Let's not jump to any conclusions quite yet. How can this government take actions against these people when they themselves are illegal?

Tmac with all due respect to you, where in the world you got the idea that the present Interim govt is illegal? The constituion gives them 100% legality. We had CTG in the past, were they illegal as well? It sounds to me your interest were vested in the prior Govt(s).
Someone in their right mind should not comment anything like this. I understand that you don't have to like the present govt. but at least don't mention anything which has no base. I believe the present Govt. is our saviour (at least for now). Did you forget the pre 1/11 incidents. All those mindless strikes, street agitations, destruction of public properties and so much of barbarism that was happening in front of our eyes. How do we call this govt illegal as concern citizens? Please give me a break!
Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Tmac with all due respect to you, where in the world you got the idea that the present Interim govt is illegal? The constituion gives them 100% legality. We had CTG in the past, were they illegal as well? It sounds to me your interest were vested in the prior Govt(s).
Someone in their right mind should not comment anything like this. I understand that you don't have to like the present govt. but at least don't mention anything which has no base. I believe the present Govt. is our saviour (at least for now). Did you forget the pre 1/11 incidents. All those mindless strikes, street agitations, destruction of public properties and so much of barbarism that was happening in front of our eyes. How do we call this govt illegal as concern citizens? Please give me a break!
Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

According to Bangladesh's unique electoral system, a caretaker government is entrusted to oversee the national parliamentary elections, which must be held within ninety days of dissolving a parliament. The constitution stipulates that the last retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court lead this caretaker government as its Chief Advisor (with status of Prime Minister) and would appoint a maximum of ten advisors (with status of ministers) to assist him. The caretaker government runs all the state's affairs during these ninety days, including conducting the nationwide parliamentary elections. However, during this time, the Defense Ministry's charge is transferred to the country's President, who assumes the role of Commander-in-Chief.

last time I checked 90 days have passed and yet there is no date for election. No where in that "military" is mentioned. After 90 days this government has become ILLEGAL. Simple as that.

"It sounds to me your interest were vested in the prior Govt(s)."

have you read any of my earlier posts? Because if you had then you wouldn't be saying that.

This unforeseen entity called interim caretaker government aka military backed government has completed its 7 months. That means this government has spent double the time Justice Shahabuddin led government had in 1991. In 3 months, justice Shahabuddin successfully,

1. Reformed the administration and got rid of the dictatorial stooges.

2. Reformed the EC.

3. Kept the two feuding political parties happy and in a peaceful coexistence.

4. Started a transparent and fair trial of Ershad.

5. Conducted the most fair election in the history of Bangladesh.

6. Handed over the power to an elected government.

7. Kept the government free of any human rights abuses.


In contrast in 3 X2 plus months, our current ICTG has

1. not done anything significant sans some transfers here and there that could be called massive reform or total deBNPization of administration.

2. reset an election commission which has, so far, done nothing but

a. Experimenting with the voter roll.

b. in keeping with the tradition of previous EC, talked too much and occasionally gave contradictory messages.

c. rather being independent, tried to be part of a government’s plan to depoliticize Bangladesh politics by encouraging splits in the parties.

d. not given any election dateline yet.

3. Rather keeping the two party political tradition steady and in a peaceful coexistence, has involved itself in dirty politics of backing one faction to dethrone the other faction.

4. Started trial of some politicians with some sham justice being served like Mamun’s 13 yrs for possessing arm, Manju’s 5 years for having wine at home etc.

5. An election is being promised at least 18 months from now. The excuse is national photo ID card. Justice Shahabuddin didn’t need any photo ID to conduct a fair election. The question is what the government will do in next 18 months while EC keeps on making national photo ID.

6. People have started suspecting the intention of this caretaker government about their power handover plan. There is a strong suggestion that the CTG wants to leave a stooge government behind and these stooges are being groomed now a day.

7. This government’s tenure has alreday been marred with gross human rights violations.

^^ 90 DAYS UNDER NORMAL CONDITION NOT UNDER STATE OF IMMERGENGY.
Thanks.

"90 DAYS UNDER NORMAL CONDITION NOT UNDER STATE OF EMERGENGY"

I am sorry no where in the constitution can I find the above statement. It is so very simple...you can come to power, declare state of emergency and stay in power as long as you want.

^^ The President declared state of immergency due to continious violence and retaliations by the political parties. We all knew what a state of terror the whole nation was passing through prior to 1/11.
The recent DU students barbarism remind us again what a jubilant nation we are. A simple football game incident turns into acts of extreme violence and mindless vandalism through out the nation.

Punish the culprits, establish law and order and then we can prepare for election. That is exactly what the present govt is trying to do. The Govt. needs cooperation from their citizen to establish rule of law. I guess that's not possible for a country like BD where 99% of administration is deeply corrupt and no morality. Bangladesh politics is full of conspiracy. Nasty legacy of violence to over through Govt. I certainly do not want to be ruled by BNP/AL/JAMAT. These are all worthless political parties with worthless ideology.

What's the rush for a sham election anyway?????

And to answer your Justice Shahabuddin's CTG era, it was merely a quick fix. The vicious cycle of violence came back soon after BNP or Al went in power. So should we make the same mistakes again and again or perhaps Bangladeshis don't learn from mistakes! This is why after 36 years of liberation we are still in deep hole.

Tmac, I'm not sure where you grew up or have you spent enough time of your life in BD? I was born and raised in Dhaka, I spent my entire childhood and youth there and attended DU. I have seen confrontational mentality in our culture and the cost of retaliations. Dude it's nasty there and you can blame our political parties for this. Bangladesh needs complete over haul. I know it will take time and there is no quick fix to that. But certainly it won't help if the same old faces are back in power. It baffles me when I see people are so forgetful.

I have to agree with "enu" on this. In the past the Caretaker government has been able to do nothing to stop the blood feud between the 2 most corrupt parties (BNP and BAL) in the world. Maybe they did hold a relatively free and fair election, but that alone is not enough.

I was talking to my family back home, and the recent campus violence is directly related to the polticians in jail using their student stronghold to create anarchy and caos. THe army camp was removed a day after the first incident and there was absolutely no need to break hundreds of cars, burn stores and houeses. This is completely unacceptable. The recent BBC interview of a student throws light on the same issue.

Bangladesh does NOT need a military government on the long run, but I think 2years is a resonable timeframe to get rid of the corruption and violence that is so deeprooted in our political system. If they can implement National ID, get rid of Khaleda/Hasina and the other corrupt leaders and ban hartal and strikes it would be a big achievement for the country.

Not every nation in the world can follow the same democratic rule like US or western Europe. In Asia, countries like Malaysia, Singapore has done relatively well with a different kind of government.

Guys, there are already two threads to voice general opinions on the caretaker government. Let's keep this thread for news and opinion on the government's policy of demolishing buildings.

Thanks Nayeem007.

Sorry Tan, I will make sure to post it on the appropriate thread in the future.:colgate:

What is wrong with the Civil Aviation Authority...How could they come up with a height limit of 150 feet in Gulshan-2?Thats insane...I think they select their favourite number or something!

What is wrong with the Civil Aviation Authority...How could they come up with a height limit of 150 feet in Gulshan-2?Thats insane...I think they select their favourite number or something!

It is insane. There is absolutely no reason for having 150 ft limit in Gulshan. For those who don't know..... Sonargaon hotel building was supposed to be much taller also. That plan was abandoned to keep it under BCAAB favorite number. We have all seen much taller buildings around many very busy airparts.

Demolition work of Rangs Bhaban likely to start next week

The demolition of Rangs Bhaban through private firm may start next week as Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha is expected to complete all the tender procedures by this time, Rajuk sources said.

‘We have already got offer from four firms that took part in the bidding opened on Tuesday,’ a Rajuk official said, adding that the evaluation by the tender evaluation committee is going on which is expected to be completed by Sunday.

‘We are hoping to award work order to the selected firm by this week and start the demolition work next week,’ the official told New Age on Friday.

The four firms that took part in the tender include Six Start, Three Star and Ashiq Enterprise.

Six Start was the highest bidder that made a bid of Tk 70 lakh for demolishing the Rangs Bhaban while Three Star put in an offer of Tk 40 lakh for the work.

The two other firms demanded allocation of funds from Rajuk instead of providing money for the demolition work, the official added.

The selected firm will have to complete the demolition work within 75 days from the start and also have to take proper safety measures during the demolition of the building, he said.

Rajuk started demolishing the 22-storey Rangs Bhaban after the Supreme Court ordered to dismantle the floors from seventh to 22nd which were built illegally.

The demolition is a part of the plan for constructing a road from Bijoy Sarani to Tejgaon Industrial Area.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council on Tuesday approved the plan to construct the road from Bijoy Sarani to Tejgaon at a cost of Tk 122 crore.

The major portion of the funds allotted for the proposed road will be spent for land acquisition, the official said, adding that around 3.6 acres of land will have to be acquired from the Bangladesh Railway, Power Development Board, Water Development Board and private owners.

Of the total amount, Tk 49.68 crore will be spent for land acquisition, Tk 27.91 crore in compensations and Tk 2.77 crore for road building.

Rajuk first issued notices in August to the owners of 49 unauthorised structures at the places of the planned road, asking them to pull down their structures by one week.

Rajuk earlier identified 63 structures, including Rangs Bhaban, and 50 of them were constructed illegally.

http://www.newagebd.com/nat.html

Not very good news but I hope that if many more buildings in Dhaka do get demolished then I hope that the land that they were sitting in be developed into taller, more extravagant structures than the latter.

Rajuk demolishes 13 structures for building Bijoy Sarani link road

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) yesterday launched a three-day drive to demolish illegal structures for the proposed link road between Bijoy Sarani and Tejgaon in the capital.

In the first day's drive about 50 rooms of 13 illegal pucca and semi-pucca structures were demolished.

The drive led by Rajuk magistrate ASM Emdadur Dastagir with the help of 100 workers continued from 9:30am to 5:30pm.

Rajuk has already identified 18 legal and 45 illegal structures in the project area.

As the drive began, many dwellers of the demolished houses broke down in tears while some remained busy shifting their belongings to other places

No untoward incident occurred during the drive as around 100 riot policemen stood guard.

Dwellers of the demolished houses alleged that they did not get any notice prior to the drive. They said the government initially decided to construct the road straight, but later they made changes in the plan to satisfy an influential quarter.

However, Rajuk magistrate Dastagir denied the allegations. He told the journalists that a notice was issued on October 11 so the dwellers get enough time to move to other places.

He said the design of the proposed road has been changed as the government tried to construct the road on its own land to reduce cost.

Dastagir said 18 legal structures will be demolished after the government acquires the land and compensates the owners.

Earlier, Rajuk partially demolished the upper floors of Rangs Bhaban which stands on the proposed link road.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=10199

PLANNED BIJOY SARANI-TEJGAON ROAD
16 structures demolished as Rajuk drive on

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha continued the drive to demolish illegal structures at the place earmarked for the planned road between Bijoy Sarani and Tejgaon for the third consecutive day on Monday.

Fifty day labourers along with a bulldozer and 80 policemen took part in the demolition of structures behind the 22-storey Rangs Bhaban, which is also being torn down by the city planning authority to construct the road.

‘On Monday, we finished demolition of the structures, which were dismantled in the previous two days,’ said an official of Rajuk.

Rajuk has so far demolished 16 structures, including two- and three-storey buildings, since it had started the drive on Saturday.

The drive will continue throughout the week to demolish all the illegal structures, excepting for three three-storey buildings, as the High Court issued stay orders against the demolition of the three buildings, said Rajuk magistrate Emdadud Dastogir.

Forty-four structures, constructed without Rajuk approval, will be demolished, he said adding that 18 legally constructed buildings will also be demolished after the plots and structures are acquired.

Abdul Hai, a resident of the area, said the planned road was initially 120-foot wide and it was straight, but now the road is going to construct curbing slightly, reducing it into 60-feet wide. He demanded that the road should be straight and 120 feet road.

An official of Rajuk said they had changed their earlier plan to construct straight road from Bijoy Sarani to Tejgaon to get government land.

‘If the road is constructed straight as per the earlier plan, we ill have to acquire one acre more private land for which the number of evicting private land owners will be more than the existing number,’ he said.

Another official of Rajuk, however, said the road was 60-foot wide since its initial planning.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council in the last week of August approved the plan to construct a 2400-foot long and 60-foot wide road from Bijoy Sarani to Tejgaon in the capital at a cost of Tk 122 crore.

The major portion of the fund allocated for the proposed road will be spent for acquiring land and structure, Rajuk officials said.

Of the Tk 122 crore project fund, Tk 49.68 crore will be spent for land acquisition, Tk 27.91 crore in compensations (for structures) and Tk 2.77 crore for road building.

http://www.newagebd.com/met.html

good to see that Rajuk is actually following up the project after the Rangs demolition.

Six Star Corporation misses deadline to demolish Rangs Bhaban

The Six Star Corporation, which got the contract to demolish the 22-storey Rangs Bhaban from its sixth floor, could pull down only 30 per cent of the building by November 22, the deadline for the demolition.

The Six Star managing director, Mohammad Yusuf Sardar, said as they had failed to complete the demolition work within the deadline, they had sent an application to the authorities concerned, seeking four more months to complete the job.

An official of Rajuk said they had already received the application, but yet to take the decision about it.

The Six Star Corporation started demolishing the building on September 9. Earlier Rajuk started demolishing the building from its sixth floor to 22nd floor, built illegally, on August 3 following a Supreme Court order. It demolished only inner parts of the building and decided to hand over the rest of the work to a private firm.

The demolition is a part of constructing a planned road from Bijoy Sarani to Tejgaon Industrial Area.

Rajuk on November 3 also launched a demolition drive to pull down 45 illegal structures constructed at the place of the proposed road.

Seventeen authorised structures will also be demolished after the completion of the acquisition process of both land and structures, Rajuk magistrate ASM Emdadud Dastagir said, adding that the DC office was dealing with the issues.

The High Court issued stay order for three out of 17 structures. ‘We have to launch the drive against the structures after the disposal of the matter,’ he said.

Rajuk earlier identified 63 structures, including the 22-storey Rangs Bhaban, for the demolition. But later it found that 49 of them were constructed illegally and 14 structures legally.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council in the last week of August approved the plan to construct a road from Bijoy Sarani to Tejgaon at a cost of 122 crore.

A major portion of the funds allotted for the proposed road will be spent for land acquisition, the official said, adding that around 3.6 acres of land will have to be acquired from Bangladesh Railway, Power Development Board, Water Development Board and private owners.

Of the total, Tk 49.68 crore will be spent for land acquisition, Tk 27.91 crore in compensation and Tk 2.77 crore for road building.

http://www.newagebd.com/met.html

Recovering Begunbari Canal
No visible step yet to cancel two plot allotments

http://www.thedailystar.net/photos/2008-01-06__city02.jpg
Hilton Hotel: A big signboard still heralds its control on the Begunbari canal (left) and BGMEA building: The authorities are still tight-lipped about its fate(right)

The government is yet to take any concrete step to cancel allotment of plots to Hotel Hilton and Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) in the city's Begunbari canal area despite anomalies and public outcry.

A big signboard of the hotel and the compound of the apex trade body remain intact as the two influential organisations are strongly lobbying at the top level of the government to retain the allotments.

Plot allotments to Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and International Arbitration Centre have meanwhile been cancelled.

The issue was discussed at a recent inter-ministerial meeting chaired by the law adviser and attended by high officials of law, land, communications and LGRD ministries.

Director General (DG) of Bangladesh Railway Belayet Hossain who was present at the meeting said that the cancellation issue was discussed at the meeting but the government has not yet taken any decision on cancellation of the plots.

The BNP-Jamaat coalition government at the fag end of its tenure leased out eight large plots in the Bugunbari Canal area, a designated flood flow zone, to Hotel Hilton, FBCCI, BTMA, International Arbitration Centre and four CNG filling stations in violation of the city's master plan and railway's land management rules of 2006.

The allotments were made also violating environment and wetland conservation related laws. The Wetland Protection Act of 2000 prohibits earth filling in canals.

There was no public bidding for leasing out the plots though it is a vital precondition as per railway's land management rules, said sources, the then communications minister made these anomalous deals applying his 'discretionary' authority.

A high official of railway said seeking anonymity that the allotments can be cancelled just on the ground that leases were not made through open tender.

The government rented out 4.16 acres of land to Hotel Hilton in the canal along the Tongi Diversion Road and another one acre to the FBCCI towards the east of Sonargaon Hotel at a token price of Tk1 lakh. But railway sources said one acre of land in that location should cost more than Tk150 crore at present day market price.

According to a top railway official, Hotel Hilton authorities have taken possession of the land with a boundary wall on their own, though the railway authorities have not handed over the possession.

As per contract, government treasury will get Tk 35 for per square feet of the 4.14 acres of land leased out for 60 years to Hilton Hotel as land rent and a share of only 1.5 percent of the hotel's total sale per year.

According to the railway officials, in case of renting out land under such deal the term must not exceed five years and it must be renewable after each term.

The process of cancelling anomalous allotment of plots once got tangled in lengthy paperwork and forwarding and receiving files.

According to sources, railway authorities forwarded files case by case to the communications ministry but did not produce all the relevant documents like copies of agreements. Files were sent back to railway asking for complete documents.

The law adviser of the communications ministry in his opinion recommended cancellation of plots leased out to FBCCI and Hotel Hilton. The files are now with the law ministry.

Earlier, the Good Governance and Development Committee of the Prime Minister's Office took a decision to retrieve 13 old-day canals in and around the capital city, in which Begunbari Canal features prominently.

According to environmental lawyers, occupying and earth filling of Begunbari canal is a violation of the Wetland Protection Act of 2000, DMDP and the Environment Conservation Act of 1995.

The Wetland Protection Act defines any river and canal or any wetlands that retains rainwater as a natural wetland.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) earmarks the Begunbari canal as a natural canal and clearly prohibits any change to its status, they said.

They said densely populated areas like Moghbazar, Tejgaon, a part of Gulshan, Badda and Rampura along the canal will face severe adverse consequences if the Begunbari Canal and its catchment areas are earth-filled.

Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the Tk 1474 crore Hatirjheel Integrated Development Project on October 8.

The project is aimed at protecting the Begunbari and Hatirjheel as flood retention area and establishing east-west communication in the capital city to ease perennial waterlogging and traffic congestion problems.

Sources said that the Good Governance Committee at the PMO at a meeting on December 18, 2005, instructed Bangladesh Railway to stop earth-filling in the Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel, take measures to re-excavate the portion filled-up, and evict other illegal occupants encroaching the canal.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=17967

Govt hopes parties won’t place ‘illogical’ conditions for dialogue
BGMEA Bhaban to be pulled down, says Quader

Housing and public works adviser Ghulam Quader said on Monday that the government would consider conditions that might be insisted upon by the political parties for the proposed dialogues, if they were not ‘impractical or illogical’.

He hoped that the parties would not place any ‘impractical and illogical’ conditions for the dialogues as they [political parties] were ‘not opponents of the present government’.

‘We will positively look into the conditions if placed by the political parties before the [proposed] dialogues…They are not our opponents,’ Quader said in response to reporters’ queries after a meeting with the senior officials of the public works ministry and the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha.

Referring to the chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed’s recent address to the nation, he said the process for the dialogue had started. ‘You must have noticed in the chief adviser’s address that the process for dialogue has started.’

He said that the government should lift the state of emergency immediately to facilitate the electoral process.

Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in his address to the nation on Saturday announced that the interim government would soon open dialogues with political parties for transition to democracy by holding free and fair elections.

One of the two major political parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, has demanded that its chairperson Khaleda Zia should be released before the dialogue while the Awami League has said that the issue of the release of its chief Sheikh Hasina will top its agenda in the dialogue with the government.

Quader, also the communications adviser, said that the government in principle had decided to demolish all illegal structures raised on water bodies.

‘The BGMEA Bhaban on the Begunbari canal or any such buildings, constructed illegally in water bodies, will be pulled down.’

http://www.newagebd.com/front.html#3

^^ A waste of resources and infrastructure. This govt had better conduct election as promised and then leave...their economic sense leaves something to be desired.

^^I think the problem with these guys is that they don't see any color other than black and white and this kind of shortsightedness is hurting our economy and the people badly. Frankly speaking, I had high hopes when these guys took over a little more than a year ago but now I see serious weaknesses in their ability to move the country forward, so much so that I think they are actually worse than those dishonest politicians in many respect. I have a feeling that these so called "honest" guys have never done anything to employ one or few few people in decent jobs in their lifetime. We don't need people who only see black and white, they are called fanatics!

^^ Problem is that they have become a one-trick pony. The corruption crackdown to start with was a good thing because our politicians needed a reminder that the country is not their personal piggy bank. It's also good that we may yet have an honest election...because a rigged election or lack of election would be grounds for more hartals etc. But current govt doesn't seem to understand that there is more to running a country than throwing people in jail. They have also failed to strike a balance between curbing graft and allowing economic growth. By extending their corruption arrests beyond the bigwigs they have created a climate where people are fearful of doing business. This has affected common people as well as the wealthy by trickle down effect of inflation and commodity shortages. I know many people think we don't need democracy but a democratic govt has accountability, which a military govt does not. Our democracy may have had serious flaws but the solution is to fix these flaws not pseudo dictatorship, however well intentioned. With regard to these buildings they are tearing down, they represent a waste of scarce recources that a poor country like ours can ill afford. The wealth that went into their construction is being completely lost from the economy. With Rangs I could accept to the extent that it blocked a major planned traffic artery. But with the others there is no adequate justification of the financial loss that the nation as a whole will incur. There are so many alternatives...from confiscation of property, severe fines etc that could have substituted. They could have even made BGMEA pay for some of the canal. But such shortsided recklessness to keep tearing down buildings when there has been no economic advancement to compensate, is lamentable.

Alternatives - such as confiscation of property, severe fines etc - sound ok. But corruption has to be stopped at once - not gradually. Even though the current government has failed to address a lot of immediate issues - it has made life miserable for the corrupt people.

“one trick pony” catchy lingo but problem was so many people subscribed to that “one trick pony" show. Only to have a rude awakening after

1) 100 +% increase in prices of essentials
2) 50% decrease in income level
3) Double digit inflation
4) Over 90% decrease in investment
5) 1.6% actual GDP LOSS - equivalent to $5.04 BILLION (in PPP term)
6) 1% potential GDP LOSS - equivalent to $3.36 BILLION (in PPP term)
7) Significant decreased in export earnings
8) Countless political, economic and social policy disaster.
.
.
.
list goes on

Since 1/11 I have said time and again - this interim entity was installed to push agendas of external powers. So called “anti corruption” show was just smoke screen to achieve those external agendas. Signature Mirza uses in his post “The Bangladesh boom defies some of development theory's central tenet” was envy of many foreign capitals including one next to us, one next to river Thames and another one next to Potomac river (there are few other small players).Their goal was massive destruction on Bangladesh economy (among others things) if not complete destruction. Question why needs discussion on religious, regional and global strategic game; which this forum is not a suitable place to elaborate.

But within one year of this interim entity captured power we can see how massive blow our economy and people had suffered. Who knows how long before we will able to start the recovery and how many more years recovery will take. In the mean time our weak economic condition will pave ways for foreign capitals, World Bank and their local agents to dictate our future.

When its time to restore confidence of businessmen ,this govt. is thinking of ways to demolish BGMEA building..regardless of how badly the demolition would reflect on the orgs image internationally!

^^ Few points, there is NO one "quick" methodology to stop corruption. Corruption can never be stopped completely. Corruption is prevalent in EVERY country of the world. Corruption is in every level of the society in Bangladesh and it will take decades just to change a fraction.

Even in the Koran alcoholic beverages where made haram in three installments in over time.

Life has been made miserable to only handful or few RENOWNED corrupt persons. Most of the corrupt individuals are doing as good as before and corruption is going on in full swing in many respect.

No structure to be spared during implementation of Hatirjheel project
Says LGRD adviser

LGRD Adviser M Anwarul Iqbal yesterday categorically said the government will not spare any structure, legal or illegal, while implementing the 'integrated development of Hatirjheel area, including Begunbari Khal project'.

“Be they legal or illegal, we won't leave out any structure during the implementation of the project,” he said at a press briefing at the temporary army camp at Hatirjheel on the eve of starting construction work of the 'integrated development of Hatirjheel area, including Begunbari Khal project'.

Replying to a question, he said the BGMEA authorities had failed to show any approved plan for their building project in the area.

He said a part of the structure of Sonargaon Hotel will also come under demolition. But, replying to a query, he said he was not aware if the expanded structure of Sonargaon Hotel was built on Hatirjheel legally or illegally.
To implement the Hatirjheel project, the government had to demolish 11 existing structures. On October 8 last year, the government approved the project of Tk 1473.59 crore.

The primary objectives of the project is to ensure protection of required area for storm water retention, to restore the degraded environment of the Hatirjheel area and to connect an important east-west missing link between two major arterial roads.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=22512

I apologize if I'm stating the obvious -- but has the details of the Hatirjheel Project been posted previously, besides the above?

I remember this being more than an ecological project...

Implementation of Integrated Development Project
Only 11 structures have to be removed from Hatirjheel

http://www.thedailystar.net/photos/2008-02-10__city01.jpg
Construction of the peripheral road at Tongi Diversion Road point has started Thursday.

A total of 11 structures including six on government land and five on private land have to be removed for implementation of the Begunbari-Hatirjheel integrated development project, project officials said quoting the study on the project.

A team of experts, headed by Professor Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), presented the layout design of the peripheral road to the project site office in presence of the LGRD adviser on Thursday.

Prof Mujibur Rahman told Star City that construction work for the road has begun at the Tongi Diversion Road point towards Rampura. Rest of the survey works and design preparations will go on simultaneously, he added.

According to him, though it was apprehended that many buildings would be demolished in the way of project implementation, the detailed survey has brought the number down to only 11 in the Hatirjheel lowland area.

“We have identified 175 acres of government land in the 295-acre project area. The rest of the land is privately-owned lowland,” he said.

Md Haider Ali, executive engineer of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), said, “We have started the construction work of the peripheral ring road at Tongi Diversion Road point on Thursday.”

Field survey has been completed. Prof Mujibur said: “Now we are preparing layout of the development work on the basis of field survey and carrying out geo-technical investigation. Design work for sewer diversion is also going on.”

The Buet team will draw up designs of all three components of the project -- the ring road, drainage system and canal development -- for implementation by LGED, Dhaka Wasa and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

The primary goals of the study are to ensure enhancing water retention capacity and adequate flow of storm water in the entire stretch of the wetland, to ease up traffic situation with a peripheral ring road and to restore the environment in the canal area diverting wastewater discharge and landscaping in the neighborhood, Mujibur said.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the development project pro forma (DPP) on October 8.

According to Prof Mujibur Rahman, 40 percent of planning and design work has so far been completed. The entire project area will be divided into several zones and physical implementation will take place zone wise following sequence of different works, he said.

New diversion sewer system will be developed to prevent discharge of wastewater into the Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel wetland areas.

As per plan, wastewater from adjoining areas will be carried up to Dasherkandi point where a treatment plant is expected to be set up.

The peripheral ring road will begin from behind the Sonargaon Hotel and walkway across the hotel's under-construction extension work.

Quoting the Rajuk authorities, Prof Mujibur said the extension work of Sonargaon Hotel in the Begunbari canal has been undertaken without permission.

According to experts, all the unauthorised structures in the city's Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel areas have to be removed and allotment of plots in the area must be cancelled to achieve the goals of the integrated project.

There should not be any obstructions within the canal area if the project is aimed at serving drainage purposes restoring the Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel catchment area.

Under the project, Begunbari canal will be dredged to mitigate waterlogging in the city.

Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) earmarks the Begunbari canal as a natural canal and a designated flood flow zone, prohibiting any change to its character.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has constructed a 15-storey commercial building in the Begunbari canal area without obtaining design approval from the Rajuk.

The BNP government, at the fag end of its tenure, allotted four plots to Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Hotel Hilton (Millennium Holding Limited) and International Arbitration Centre in violation of environment and wetland conservation related laws.

Besides, four other plots were allotted for setting up CNG filling stations, not only in violation of the city's master plan and wetland conservation act but also bending Bangladesh Railway's land management rules of 2006.

Prof. Mujibur Rahman said that the BGMEA building is right in the middle of the canal and obviously an obstruction to implementation of design and layout of the integrated development project. But it is up to the government how to handle the issue.

Responding to recent criticism that many private property will come under requisition and demolition for implementing the project, the Buet professor said their aim is to spare most of the built structures and affect the minimum number of them.

The same team of Prof Mujibur Rahman carried out a similar survey in 2004 in the Bengunbari canal and entire stretch of the Hatirjheel for a proposed development scheme of Rajuk. The team then recommended an elevated roadway keeping 265 acres of flood retention plain free from any structures in Begunbari-Hatirjheel area.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=22691

Alternatives - such as confiscation of property, severe fines etc - sound ok. But corruption has to be stopped at once - not gradually. Even though the current government has failed to address a lot of immediate issues - it has made life miserable for the corrupt people.

Do you have any data to support this? The government has caught some selected bigwigs, but corruption has increased. Yes,maybe the ministers are no longer corrupt,but the culture of bribes in government offices and government tenders had actually increased.

TMAC -- Thanks for posting the relevant info on Hatirjheel project.

Illegal structures in Hatirjheel demolished

http://www.thedailystar.net/photos/2008-03-06__front01.jpg
The authorities bulldoze around 50 illegal establishments in the Hatirjheel canal near Sonargaon Hotel in the capital yesterday.

The authorities yesterday demolished around 50 tin-shed and concrete structures at the edge of the Hatirjheel Canal near Hotel Sonargaon in the capital.

In presence of a magistrate and police, Rajuk workers using hammers and a bulldozer knocked down the illegally built houses and commercial structures.

“We have completed our job without any hassles,” said Doulat Akbar, officer-in-charge of the Ramna Police Station, after the several hours long drive.

Police said the authorities had issued notices to the illegal occupants and announced the eviction drive with loudspeakers a day before the drive.

However, some evicted people alleged that the authorities displaced them without arranging any alternative shelter for them.

The government has designed a project to save the Hatirjheel and Begunbari wetlands, the largest retainers in the city, to ensure proper stormwater drainage.

A four-lane peripheral ring road will be constructed under the integrated project.

Earlier, the government planned to make an elevated roadway connecting the Tongi Diversion Road with Rampura Bridge and Gulshan.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=26374

^^Kicking poor people out without first helping them find shelter wont solve any problems. :ohno

Rajuk's demolition drive continues near Hatirjheel.

photo credit Ershad Ahmed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Tarik/Tarik5/rajukdemolition6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Tarik/Tarik5/rajukdemolition5.jpg

demo drive in full force

photo credit: Ershad Ahmed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Tarik/Tarik6/rajukdemodrive3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Tarik/Tarik6/rajukdemodrive2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Tarik/Tarik6/rajukdemodrive.jpg

^^
Great pics Tmac, thanks a lot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/Bangladesh/bangladesh1/Bangladesh2/Bangladesh3/rajukdemodrive12.jpg

Government in dilemma over BGMEA Bhaban

Fate of the BGMEA Bhaban, found constructed ‘illegally’ on a protected wetland in the Dhaka city, is yet to be determined as the interim government seems to be in a dilemma over the issue, said official sources.

Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed on Sunday was apprised of the progress in the Hatirjheel development project, implementation of which necessitates demolition of the 15-stroey building on the Begunbari canal, they said.

Housing and public works adviser Ghulam Quader, LGRD and cooperatives adviser Anwarul Iqbal, chief adviser’s special assistant Mahbub Jamil and senior officials concerned were present, among others, at the meeting on the development project.

Complications in land acquisition and delay in taking a concrete decision about the high-rise building in the Hatirjheel area were identified as major impediments to implementing the development project, said an official who attended the meeting held at the Chief Adviser’s Office.

He said no directive was issued from the meeting about the BGMEA building. The meeting was informed that a proposal was sent to the central land acquisition committee of the land ministry for acquiring around 300 acres of land for the Hatirjheel development project.

After demolishing the city’s 22-storey Rangs Bhaban, the interim administration seemed to be taking time to decide on the BGMEA building although a survey report said the skyscraper stood in the way of the development project initiated by the government in the Hatirjheel area.

‘The government will decide on the BGMEA Bhaban within two weeks. You will find a concrete decision by the time in this regard,’ housing and public works secretary ASM Rashidul Hai told New Age in early March in his office after a meeting that reviewed Rajuk’s projects that include ‘Integrated Development of Hatirjheel Area including Begunbari Khal’.

Earlier, the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology after a survey found the BGMEA complex among structures that would obstruct the Hatirjheel integrated development project.

In June last year, an inter-ministerial meeting in the secretariat asked the housing and public works ministry to take proper measures against the BGMEA Bhaban built in violation of the Wetland Protection Act 2000.

An official of Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkha said the building, headquarters of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association, did not have clearance from the city development authorities.

The 14 crore- Hatirjheel development project would cover around 250 acres of land for construction of 10 km roads around the lake from Panthapath to the Rampura Bridge, connecting the existing thoroughfares in the area. The project would also require demolition of around 250 structures in the area. The LGRD ministry will implement the road-construction project and the Rajuk will rehabilitate the lake while the water and sewerage authority will look after its drainage, according to the project proposal.

BGMEA officials claimed that they had got the approval of the building on January 21, 2004 with the condition for constructing a ‘beautiful bridge’ adjacent to the BGMEA Bhaban. ‘We have already paid the fine to Rajuk for construction of the bridge.’

The authorities demolished a number of unauthorised structures on Begunbari canal, a water retention area that drains out sewage and water through Hatirjheel. The state-owned Sonargaon Hotel was also prevented from doing an extension work for not having any land-use clearance from the relevant authorities.

http://www.newagebd.com/met.html

Govt yet to demolish risky buildings in city
Some 25 thousands buildings identified as vulnerable
Ziaur Rahman
Amid life risk, thousands of people are living in vulnerable and fragile residence and different commercial buildings at different places including old part of capital Dhaka.
According to survey and inquiry reports prepared several times, some 25 thousands residential and commercial buildings have been identified as vulnerable and risky for dwelling and these building may collapse anytime.
Earlier, the government had decided to demolish these risky and vulnerable buildings but it is yet to implement its decision due to unknown reason.
After the collapse of a century-old building in the city's Shakhari Bazar area in the month of June in 2004, the government has taken the issue seriously and formed several committees to take effective measures regarding these types of vulnerable and risky buildings. But no measures have been taken till date. During that period the committee had also identified a large number of buildings which are not suitable and safe for living.
Mehedi Hassan Ansari, a teacher of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in his research, showed that 65 per cent of the buildings in the capital, have been constructed violating national building code and without engineering design.
"As these buildings have been constructed without proper policy and engineering design, it may collapse anytime. These buildings are becoming more vulnerable and risky day by day. Government should take immediate steps to address these problems otherwise different types of disaster may take place.
BUET Vice-Chancellor MM Safiullah said apart from the century old buildings situated in different places in the city especially in old Dhaka, indiscriminate and unplanned construction of high rise buildings, the condition of a large number buildings have taken a serious turn. "This trend should be stopped. Not only government but also all concerned engaged in constructing buildings should come forward to save the city people," he added.
In 2004, Dhaka City Corporation had prepared a list of risky and vulnerable buildings in the capital. According to the report hundreds of century old buildings situated in the old Dhaka, have become more vulnerable and risky. The report suggested that these buildings will have to be declared abandoned. DCC also recommend the authority concerned that some 585 buildings will have to be demolished.The report declared Shakhari Bazar, Tnati Bazar, Lalbagh, Farsahganj, Shympur and Shymbazar as danger zones as these areas contain the vulnerable buildings. These vulnerable establishments were constructed between 30 and 350 years ago.
According to a DCC official, most of buildings in old Dhaka don't have sufficient space. If any building collapses, the other buildings constructed adjacent, will also collapse. "The collapse of one building could trigger off a chain reaction and adjacent buildings would fall like dominoes," he cautioned.


http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/back%20page.htm

I found a new picture of Rangs Bhaban on Daily Star. I could not post the attachment for some reason :bash:, so here is the link:

http://thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=54088

Hopefully, the government will be able to open Bijoy Sharani Extension Road on the 16th of December.

Hopefully.....

by rashed hafiz

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2851840042_7276e54f94_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2851006767_7cb803d247_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2851840894_9acbd29eb5_b.jpg

^^ Great pictures Amar! Rangs Bhaban looks a little scary now....

I hope they are serious about building that road. I would hate to lose such a nice building for nothing. I hope that the demolition is finished before elections otherwise there is always a chance that the process is left unfinished and we end up with a major eyesore.

I hope they are serious about building that road. I would hate to lose such a nice building for nothing. I hope that the demolition is finished before elections otherwise there is always a chance that the process is left unfinished and we end up with a major eyesore.

I thought they have built parts of that road already? Unless the next elected government happens to be cronies of the Rangs people, I doubt anything would happen like Rangs getting the land back to build again. But then, didn't the courts ruled against Rangs? Of course anything can happen in Bangladesh because the credibility and integrity of the judiciary is yet unproven.

Rangs bhaban looks like its in a war zone and was bombed heavily! :) Anyway, I was reading some previous posts and found that there were quite a bit of concerns about demolishing high rises for implementing some inane CAAB rules. Well, I haven't heard anything further about it. So, that should make all of us, the skyscraper fans, happy. Driving in Dhaka has become completely unbearable, so looks like the govt. will extend the road there afterwards. there is some benefit of seeing this building going away!

Rangs bhaban looks like its in a war zone and was bombed heavily! :) Anyway, I was reading some previous posts and found that there were quite a bit of concerns about demolishing high rises for implementing some inane CAAB rules. Well, I haven't heard anything further about it. So, that should make all of us, the skyscraper fans, happy. Driving in Dhaka has become completely unbearable, so looks like the govt. will extend the road there afterwards. there is some benefit of seeing this building going away!

Yeah..CAAB rules regarding high rises were always crazy..and if this govt. couldn't implement those lousy rules,then no govt ever will.That definitely calls for celebrations

Yeah..CAAB rules regarding high rises were always crazy..and if this govt. couldn't implement those lousy rules,then no govt ever will.That definitely calls for celebrations
fcuk teh caab, those bitches are one of the biggest ghushkhors in bd

Yeah..CAAB rules regarding high rises were always crazy..and if this govt. couldn't implement those lousy rules,then no govt ever will.That definitely calls for celebrations
fcuk teh caab, those bitches are one of the biggest ghushkhors in bd

Oh what a view of the under construction Rangs Bhaban! :D

^^under construction? :lol:

scary

A good news.Hope Dhaka will have a promising development in the future.

65% of the buildings in Dhaka were constructed violating national building codes and without proper engineering design. If a majority of buildings in a city were constructed illegally, we might need a plan to transform that entire city and make it a better one similar to what Baron Haussman did to Paris in the 1800s.

And does this thread cover demolitions anywhere in Dhaka or only in certain areas?

^^ This thread was created several years ago...when Rajuk, particularly under the military-sponsored Caretaker Government, started tearing down highrises and other structures for various violations. As far to my knowledge, this drive has now died down, so this thread is somewhat obsolete.

Your idea of tearing down buildings en masse is going to accomplish little in a developing country with limited resources. In time, as the general wealth increases, an increasing proportion of buildings will be built according to stricter building standards, without such drastic meaures. Building standards have little to do with the Rajuk demolition drive. For instance, Rangs Bhaban was torn down because it was blocking the path of a planned avenue. Several constructions were suspende because they were impinging on the Hatir Jheel water collection area. Etc.

Also, on another note, I have no idea what jessiewei is referring to...since he / she is the one responsible for ressurecting this thread.

65% of the buildings in Dhaka were constructed violating national building codes and without proper engineering design. If a majority of buildings in a city were constructed illegally, we might need a plan to transform that entire city and make it a better one similar to what Baron Haussman did to Paris in the 1800s.

And does this thread cover demolitions anywhere in Dhaka or only in certain areas?

You won't be seeing future demolitions in Dhaka even though buildings in Dhaka were constructed violating national building codes. Politician themselves are guilty of this and they won't tear down their own building, right?. On a recent article I read the Govt is updating national building codes to allow more skyscrapers in more areas, most likely those building violating codes will be incorporated into new rules and make them in sync with the law.

Well, maybe if some of the good-looking and stable-looking structures hadn't been ruled as illegal, several buildings in Dhaka wouldn't be dying right now.

I would rather find some slum areas in Dhaka to tear down and improve rather than some good-looking buildings which are being torn down for no reason.

I would rather find some slum areas in Dhaka to tear down and improve rather than some good-looking buildings which are being torn down for no reason.

Dont worry bro,the days of new buildings being torn down are gone.....thats not gonna happen on a significant scale anymore,that govt is gone.

Dont worry bro,the days of new buildings being torn down are gone.....thats not gonna happen on a significant scale anymore,that govt is gone.

Unless you (a particular business with prestige buildings) happen to be on the wrong side of the government of the day. :)

Dont worry bro,the days of new buildings being torn down are gone.....thats not gonna happen on a significant scale anymore,that govt is gone.

Mirza, I found out something interesting today from my dad when he tried to get electricity connection for our newly constructed house. There is some kind of a 4 month moratorium on getting new utility connections and this is causing numerous problems for builders. Can you shed more light on this? Thanks.

Law enforcers demolish illegally occupied land where the International Club was situated in a prestigious Gulshan area of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Earlier, in the morning, the Dhaka City Development authority (Rajuk) demolished the front wall of the club before getting the instruction from ministry level to stop the drive immediately

Sheikh Abdul Mannan, director, Development Control of Rajuk told The Daily Star that the International Club authorities have been using the land in commercial purpose illegally.

“We came here to evict the club, but now we are postponing the drive until Saturday in the face of instructions from ministry level”, Abdul Mannan said.

Executive magistrate of Rajuk said that the club authorities use the house illegally with the illegal structure of swimming pool, gymnasium and bar.

Eviction drive to International Club stopped
Star Online Report
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipokkho (Rajuk) on Wednesday postponed the eviction drive to International Club at Gulshan in the city following an instruction of higher authorities.

Rajuk however, gave the club authorities two days of time to shift all their belongings.

Earlier, in the morning, the Dhaka City Development authority (Rajuk) demolished the front wall of the club before getting the instruction from ministry level to stop the drive immediately

Sheikh Abdul Mannan, director, Development Control of Rajuk told The Daily Star that the International Club authorities have been using the land in commercial purpose illegally.

“We came here to evict the club, but now we are postponing the drive until Saturday in the face of instructions from ministry level”, Abdul Mannan said.

Executive magistrate of Rajuk said that the club authorities use the house illegally with the illegal structure of swimming pool, gymnasium and bar.

Source: The Daily Star

^^
Same old same old. Money and/or undue pressure from influential quarters continue to aid and abet illegality. :ohno: