75 heritage sites to be affected by proposed metro rail route.

The government would take the decision with regard to the heritage sites, historic monuments and cultural establishments on the metro rail route after getting the report from a team of consultants.The team appointed by the government in November identified 75 monuments and heritage sites on the route or its periphery.It is expected to submit the report to the government in a day or two, said the team leader, professor MM Hoque.At least the Dhaka Gate of the Mughal period would require removal unless the route of the Dhaka Metro Rail Project was changed.Suhrawardy Udyan, Parliament Building,  Old Dhaka Airport, Doyel Chattar, Kadom Fowara, and Shapla Chattar would be affected by vibration, as well as sound and  air pollution. Some of these sites might need partial demolition while the precincts of some could be encroached upon.

Within 19 to 135 metres of the MRP route are 13 historic sites – Haji Khawaja Shahbaj Mosque and Tomb and Musa Khan Mosque of the Mughal period, the Mausoleum of three leaders, Curzon Hall of Dhaka University, CIRDAP at Chamerry House, Old High Court Building housing the International Crimes Tribunals, the National Museum, Bangla Academy, Khawja Ambar Mosque, the Greek monument at TSC, British Bungalow at Khamar Bari housing Soil Resource Development Institute and Baitul Mukamrram National Mosque.
Haji Khawaja Shahbaz Mosque and the  Tomb of Haji Khawja Shahbaj are located within the Old High Court boundaries just behind the mausoleum of three leaders  (Sher-e-Bangla A.K.Fazlul Hoque, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and Khawaja Nazimuddin).Dhaka Gate in front of the mausoleum is on the Dhaka University campus.Musa Khan Mosque is on the western side of Shahidullah Hall of Dhaka University.

The draft survey report of the consultants accessed by New Age recommended shifting the metro rail route to save the heritage sites.It recommended rerouting the metro line through Bijay Sarani and Matsa Bhaban via Shahbagh Crossing.The current metro line alignment encroaching upon the precincts of Parliament Building and Dhaka University campus would affect the monuments and heritage sites.Metro Rail Project director Md Mofazzel Hossain said that the government hired the consultants to provide a survey report on the possible impacts of the metro route on the heritage sites with recommendations.The tender documents would be prepared on the basis of the recommendations, he said.
The proposed 20.1 km metro rail service  from Uttara to Bangladesh Bank will drastically cut down travel time for office goers via Pallabi, Farmgate, Shahbagh, Doyel Chattar and Topkhana Road with 16 stations.Implementation of the project kicked off on  February 25, 2014.

On November 12, 2014, Associated Engineers and Consultants Limited was assigned to survey and identify heritage sites to be affected by the metro line.Jahangirnagar University professor MM Hoque, who is heading the team of consultants told New Age Thursday that the consultants were now drafting the recommendations.The consultants are required to evaluate the possible impacts of vibration and sound and  air pollution on the heritage sites.Metro rail line construction is due to begin in 2017 and the government was to complete it by 2024.Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha issued a notice asking for keeping 106 historical places and building unaffected.The Department of Archaeology asked for keeping 32 heritage sites and monuments untouched.

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