Dhaka and architects
After going through the article of architect Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed (The Daily Star 1/2/08), I was rather surprised to find that he knows all the problems and the probable solutions about our current repulsive architectural culture prevailing in society. But the influence on our architects in Dhaka is negligible. It is the motivation factor, which is distorted [by market conditions].
A question arises: the preservation and practice of enforcing moral ethics in professionalism. In our society it is observed that our medical practitioners and teachers are also loose and lax in following what the textbooks say.
One basic cause is the domination of black wealth in the market. The professionals give in to what the unprincipled owners want. It takes moral guts to say NO. There should be a limit to compromises. The basic culprits are the ruling politicians. The established institutions have cracked and many broken down (also note the way some of our industries have shrivelled and are dying; the neglect of preventive maintenance).
I was thinking of settling in Dhaka city after retirement ( I am in Dhaka since a school student during the Raj period); but this fascination is fading away-don't like the concrete jungle, and vertical living. Out of touch with mother Nature-dehumanised! Too crowded, thanks to political centralisation. It is time we thought seriously of turning the divisions into provinces-our density of population per sq km is the highest in the world.
The new and fast changing urban society needs stabilisation at the base/foundation [the vertical rise is too rapid, economically and philosophically]; but our so-called civic society leaders have failed to persuade the ruling politicians to take a more humanised view of political trappings. The outcome? Overcrowded jails with VVIPs!!
Look at the modern flats in the capital. The verandas are miniaturised; and that too in a hot tropical country. All cannot afford laundry machine and air conditioners. Most of the flats offered belong to luxury class (in an LDC).
Today we cannot depend on the architects, bureaucrats, lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers and the business community. No light at the end of the tunnel?
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