Hatirjheel to offer more entertainment facilities

The government has taken an initiative to turn Hatirjheel in Dhaka into a better attractive site for visitors introducing some new entertainment facilities in the project area. In the original plan of Hatirjheel Area Integrated Development Project, there were some entertainment facilities, but the project authority in its fourth revised version included some other facilities so that the city dwellers can spend quality time there. The facilities included a theatre, laser-show, waterbuses and water-taxi service, fast food shops and restaurants. Since the opening (partial) of the project on January 2, 2013, the site has drawn huge visitors as the city dwellers have little scope to pass their leisure time in an open space. It has become one of the gathering hubs for the city people, especially on the weekend and festivals. The project, kicked off in July 2007, was originally scheduled to be completed by December 2010. But the project period was first extended for a year until December 2011 and later it got another time extension until December 2012. Later, it got third and forth extensions to complete the project. As per the fourth revised version approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on August 25, 2015, the Hatirjheel Area Integrated Development Project will be completed with an estimated cost of Tk22.36 billion (2,236.02 crore) by 2016. Rajuk, assisted by the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED), Dhaka Wasa and Special Work Organisation (16 Engineers Construction Battalion) of Bangladesh Army, are implementing the project. Project Manager of Hatirjheel Project Nazrul Islam said a theatre will be built in the area with 2,500 sitting capacities. The laser show will be arranged for the visitors through a ticketing system. Besides, a car-parking area will be built with a parking capacity of 250 vehicles at a time apart from having an office of the management to look after the entertainment facilities, he said. Waterbus and water-taxi service will be introduced so that visitors can roam around the project area apart from going to Rampura-Moghbazar-Karwanbazar areas to have their daily affairs done. Bus services, both AC and non-AC ones, will be available for coming to the spot, Nazrul added. The project will be completed by 2016, according to UNB.
- biplab