Mughal heritage site demolished in old town

A Mughal heritage building was demolished on Sunday without permission of the Department of Archaeology and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha at Shakharibazar in the capital.
Two top floors of the three-story building were demolished till 3:30pm on Sunday.
Archaeology department field officer Nasima Shaheen told New Age that they filed a general diary with Kotoali police Station in this regard.
The department conducted a drive with police at the spot and asked the owners of the structure to stop the demolition.
As the building ‘contains heritage value, the occupant, even if a legal owner, cannot bring any change to its structure without permission’ of appropriate authorities, she said.
Subrata Sur, one of the owners of the building, claimed they had been living for seven generations in the above 350 years old house, holding no 64 at Shakharibazar.
Now the building, where 28 families reside, became vulnerable and ‘can collapse anytime’, he said.
The government through a 2009 gazette asked all to take permission of the Department of Archaeology and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, regarding 100 structures and 13 streets with 4 areas in the old town.
In the last seven years, more than 500 historic buildings in the area were demolished, according to Urban Study Group, a voluntary organisation.
Taimur Islam, chief executive of the Urban Study Group, said they were working to save the historic buildings from being brought down.
On Sunday, the USG held a rally at Victoria Park demanding stoppage of demolition of Old Dhaka’s historic installations.
They also said the authorities should take immediate steps to preserve the historic structures and compensate their owners.
‘These historic buildings are our assets, that we cannot replace no matter how hard we try,’ said Taimur Islam.
‘We should build on what we have, rather than destroy the traditional fabric and ambience that exists in Old Dhaka,’ he said.
He alleged that Basudeb Sur, who owns 80 per cent of the house no 64, also demolished 63 no building in the absence of any action by the authorities concerned.
Urban Study Group also urged government to reconstructing building no 64 and save around
1500 buildings with heritage value in old town of Dhaka.

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