'Metro route realignment to dash people's hope'
Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed speaks at a human chain programme before Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the city yesterday. Institute of Architects Bangladesh organised the event to protest the changed plan of the metro rail route.Photo: STAR
The move to realign the metro rail along Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban would undermine people's rights to an unhindered development, noted professionals and environmentalists said at a human chain yesterday. Concerned about the government's position, they appealed to the prime minister not to do the realignment in order to save the parliament building's grandeur and aesthetics. Bangladesh Air Force objected to Bijoy Sarani section of the metro route on the plea that the 19-metre high rail would hinder air operations at Tejgaon airfield. BAF also pressed for the route's diversion along the eastern side of the Sangsad Bhaban towards Farmgate through Khamarbari. According to technical experts, the realignment would encroach significantly upon the Sangsad complex, a world-famous architectural marvel by Louis I Kahn. “The government's decision for metro route realignment is a defeat of people's aspirations and the spirit of democracy, as the air force pleas are unfounded”, Shamsul Wares, an eminent architect, said. The move to save an abandoned airport at the cost of public benefit has no rationale, he said, adding that a rail route passing by the Sangsad premises is unacceptable, as it undermines the supremacy of parliament as a symbol of democracy. Architect Abu Sayeed M Ahmed said it is unacceptable that development in a vital area of the capital city should remain dwarfed due to an abandoned airport. A team of Ispahani Islamia Eye Hospital, which is located on Khamarbari road and is likely to suffer damage if the metro route is realigned, expressed solidarity with the demonstrators. Zahida Ispahani, adviser to the hospital, said it is a 50-year old institution and a national asset that has been serving the people of Bangladesh. It provides health care to nearly 1,500 outdoor patients every day on an average, she said. “Our appeal to the government is save the eye hospital so that we can continue to serve the people”. Around 350 demonstrators, including over 250 architects, planners, environmentalists, university teachers and students, took part in the human chain organised in the south plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban. The Institute of Architects Bangladesh organised the demonstration along with Bangladesh Institute of Planners and several civic bodies. Architect Iqbal Habib, joint sectary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa), conducted the programme presided over by Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, vice president of Bapa. The metro rail will to connect Uttara Third Phase and Sayedabad. The construction is supposed to start this year and be completed in three years.
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