On April 23rd, 2011, the High Court of Bangladesh ordered the demolition of the BGMEA Bhaban, and the demolition began this January. The building, built by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), was said to be built in an unlawful and unplanned manner. It restricted the water flow of Hatirjheel and was an eyesore in the midst of the beautiful lake. Similarly, the Shetu Bhaban which houses the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), was similarly built on illegal land in Banani, and has caused similar problems, including causing environmental damage, and creating traffic congestion. For these reasons, there have been calls for the demolition of Shetu Bhaban, especially from Mayor Atiqul Islam of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Let’s take a look at the problems being caused by the building, and the potential benefits of the demolition of Shetu Bhaban.
Environmental Damage
There was a large stretch of land owned by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) from Chairmanbari to Shetu Bhaban, which was filled with many trees that provided oxygen for the residents of Banani. This land was earmarked for widening the Airport Road. But instead, many illegal buildings, including the Shetu Bhaban. Many trees were cut during the construction of this building. And this had a massive impact on the environment of Banani. This is why it is compared to the BGMEA Bhaban, which also had a similarly harmful effect on Hatirjheel.
The demolition of the building can allow the restoration of some of that greenery, which in turn will have a positive impact on the environment in Banani. The Mayor plans to demolish all the buildings built on the corridor between Chairmanbari to Shetu Bhaban, restoring some of its past beauty, and allowing the expansion of the road, which we will discuss in a later paragraph.
Built On Illegal Land
Shetu Bhaban was built on land that was reserved for the expansion of the Airport Road. Although the land is owned by the Roads and Highways Division (RHD), it wasn’t allotted for the construction of buildings. But construction of some buildings took place here, most notably the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Bhaban, and Shetu Bhaban of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA). Instead of the area being utilized for widening the road, the buildings, especially Shetu Bhaban, have ended up choking the road, creating a massive bottleneck of traffic. Shetu Bhaban’s construction has had a massive impact on traffic on the Airport Road, which is one of Dhaka’s major roads. This has many implications, which we will be exploring in the following paragraph.
Traffic Congestion On The Airport Road
The Airport Road is one of the busiest roads in Dhaka. Shetu Bhaban is built right on it, and that too on land that was supposed to be used to widen the road. After the construction of the Mohakhali Flyover, the stretch of road right in front of Shetu Bhaban has become one of Dhaka’s worst choke points for traffic, as the entry into the flyover is located right in front of the building. This entry reduces the width of the conventional road to 20ft, which is unacceptable for a road of such stature.
The resulting gridlock causes city wide traffic congestion, especially during peak hours. The demolition of the building can help free up space, which can be used to widen this part of the road, and relieve traffic congestion. Paired with the environmental damage caused by the buidling, and you can understand why the Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, Atiqul Islam, is so adamant about the demand for the relocation and demolition of Shetu Bhaban.
In today’s article, we explored the reasons for the demolition of Shetu Bhaban, and its potential benefits. Do you think Shetu Bhaban will be demolished anytime soon? Tell us your answer in the comments below.
