Not long ago, town planners of Dhaka proposed a grand plan for creating an ideal space to help its residents pass their leisure time. They mulled some unique recreation outlets. The project was hailed by the different sections of people as an innovative one. Architects involved with it visualised a sprawling area at Shahbagh, from the PG-BIRDEM roundabout to TSC, and its surrounding places. Along with remodelling the present National Museum, the National Public Library and the Fine Arts Institute, the project had a prime focus on creating a spacious square at the place. People aware of the necessity of city squares in large cities welcomed the idea. In fact, of all the big cities in South Asia, it is only Dhaka which doesn't have a formal public square.
Squares have been an integral part of cities since pre-Christ eras. They are meant for use by the local residents as a site for passing leisurely hours during afternoons and evenings. In the earlier times, they would be used as venues for scholarly discussions and debates. At times they would also witness sessions of cultural events. The character of squares underwent a major change in the 19th to 20th centuries. Instead of serious purposes, the squares eventually emerged as venues of pure fun and leisure. The South Asian cities thus began keeping large swathes of concrete spaces for building squares. In some countries they were found mingled with esplanades or promenades. The Mumbai Marine Drive can be used both as a square and promenade. On the other hand, the espla-nade area in central Kolkata has no rivers or lakes nearby. Still the spacious traffic-filled and crowded area has for over a century been known as an esplanade, veritably meaning a town square. On the other hand, the Tiananmen Square in China's Beijing is a perfect venue for passing leisurely afternoons. Families, youthful friend circles and solitude-seeking elderly men and women throng the place to pass time in their own styles. The vast Red Square in Moscow is equally famous for its importance to the city people and the role it plays in keeping the inner-city roads and the highways linked. Scores of Moscow's roads originate at the square in the Russian capital. Apart from leisurely activities, the square also witnesses the yearly military parade. Dhaka organises its annual Victory Day military marches and displays at its parade square at the old airport at Tejgaon. The square is open to public in the rest of the year. India holds its Republic Day parade every year at the massive square at Red Fort in Delhi. It is also a popular tourist site.
National squares in the countries' capitals have for ages been serving as centres of recreation. The Plaza Mayor in Madrid is considered one of the world's most attractive town or public squares. The French capital Paris has more than 20 city squares. They include Place de la Bastille, Place de l'Etoile, Place Dauphine, Place de la Concorde etc. The tradition of designating an open space in cities as people's meeting place has its roots in Europe. They can be traced back to the periods of 15th and 16th centuries. In accordance with this tradition, historic European cities have put in a lot of energy and creativity in constructing public squares. On the other hand, some sea or riverside cities focused on building marine drives and waterfront esplanades.
As has been seen in Dhaka, it is the vibrant youth which works as the driving force behind successful development of many a square. Had there been no outbursts of youth in the area, Shahbagh would have remained in place as just an important roundabout. But a number of landmark events are associated with the place. They range from the Bangla New Year Festival and the carnival, periodical cultural assemblages, and painting shows at the Fine Arts Institute. But the events on occasions went beyond the confines of culture. Along with festive pageants, the Shahbagh area has also been witness to protests and demonstrations. It eventually emerged as a centre for pressing political demands of the time through sit-in programmes. Human chains and street rallies related to rights issues are the frequently held occurrences at the venue. These programmes do not dissuade people from different social strata from visiting the place. They include families, raucous friend circles as well as elderly persons.
A modern city can hardly be visualised without squares. Esplanades must have the provision for water bodies nearby. Lots of cities are deprived of this gift of nature. To its great luck, Dhaka is blessed with for rivers on its peripheries. Along with Shahbagh, the river banks could be transformed into enchanting riverfronts or esplanades. The city authorities appear to bother little about restoring the vibrancy of these rivers, let alone take up projects to build esplanades along their banks. Decades ago, the Buriganga river banks had walkways in place to enable work-weary people to pass the afternoon and evening hours amid cool breeze blowing from the river. Encroachment on the river bank and the mushrooming makeshift markets and shops posed a threat to the waterfront venues of leisure and blissful pastime. In a short time, all signs of the riverside recreational points started disappearing. Today the long stretch of the bank remains chockablock with seemingly endless streams of traffic. There is not enough space for people to take a peaceful stroll. The air is thick with stenches coming from the fetid river water filled with municipal waste and garbage. The Buriganga waterfront with its walkways and stone slabs for sitting is now history. The authorities have lately started planning to restore the promenades along the capital's four rivers. Dhaka lovers view the plan as a laudatory one which is set to restore the long forgotten urban beauty of the city.
The Buriganga riverfront aside, the Shahbagh area at the city heart is now viewed as being filled with scores of potential for making it a perfect public square. The choice of Shahbagh by the city planners for developing it into a recreation centre is a pragmatic one. It cannot be disputed. Moreover, the venue has already emerged as a convenient centre of socio-cultural activism. In the recent decades, Shahbagh has been nationally known as a major focal point of socio-cultural programmes. They continue almost round the year. In spite of this flurry of activity, the newly built Shahbagh is also expected to have the facilities of privacy for people who seek it. Notwithstanding the rush of traffic on the roads, youths are seen creating their own pockets of privacy in the area. The coming square is said to be free of the present noise and sound pollution. Thanks to the overhead metro rail route set to pass through the area, it is expected to have less road traffic than we see now.
The new-generation architects thinking of changing the landscape of Shahbagh have quintessentially been spurred by an idyllic dream. The project for the new Shahbagh is said to comprise features like a wide open space, gardens, time-befitting snacks corners, gossip centres etc not seen before in the middle of a city in Bangladesh. As the plan spells out, the area is set to be turned into an ideal place for enjoying nature and solitude in their various manifestations amid the pervasive urban monotony.
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