Fund constraints leave two memorials incomplete

KHULNA, Dec 15 (BSS): Construction of Gallyamari Martyrdom Complex and Bir Shrestha Ruhul Ameen Memorial are yet to be completed due to lack of fund allocation.
Freedom Fighters and leaders of the civil society have expressed their deep concern over delay in completing the construction of these two projects.
Construction of the main part of the memorial at Gallyamari, the second largest monument in the country, started on November 20, 2009 at a cost of Tk 22.2 million Khulna District Council (KDC) Authorities sent a letter to the LGRD and Cooperative Ministry to complete the remaining works of the project and requested to allocate Taka 8 crore on March 29, 2011. Without constructing the approach road, parking yard, demarcation wall along with a gate, waiting room, restaurant, tree plantation and gardening sites, water spring and electrification, the project would not be attractive, the letter said.
Howlader Rakibul Bari, chief executive officer of the KDC, told BSS that as per the master plan, the project would not be beautiful and attractive without these auxiliary sites.
Architect Amirul Islam Emon, also the designer of the Gallyamari Monument, in 2011 stressed the need for completing the total project soon. "We received a letter from the Ministry concerned signed by senior assistant secretary Zubaida Nasreen on April 6, 2011," he added.
The Secretary of the Liberation War Affairs Ministry has been requested to help implement the remaining works of the project as per the master plan, the letter said.
Meanwhile, Khulna District Council sent another letter to the LGRD Ministry to allocate Taka 7.52 million for completing the Memorial Complex of Bir Shrestha Ruhul Ameen at his graveyard area in Rupsha upazila of the district on September 18, 2014.
"We have sent a letter along with a design, soil test report and a probable project cost, but no response has come yet from the LGRD Ministry," Rakibul Bari said.
Talking to BSS, President of Khulna Citizen Forum and valiant Freedom Fighter Sheikh Abdul Quiyum said as the Gallyamari Monument is yet to be completed, the entire area becomes a grazing field during the day while drug abusers and peddlers find it their safe den in the evening.