Post facto approval of BGMEA Bhaban

We do wholly agree with Mr O.H. Kabir to the point of avoiding the demolition of the 15-storied Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Bhaban, that was built at the cost of millions of takas. Only due to some lapses and omissions on the past of some persons, the building should not be demolished. Mr O.H Kabir appropriately said in his letter that was published in the FE on April 24, 2011, that in 1610, the Moghuls built the Dhaka city and ever since it continued to grow and expand day by day haphazardly for the last four hundred years. Any one must agree with the fact that lapses, omissions, negligence of duty and acts of corruption are rampant in our country for decades together. These cannot be removed overnight by demolishing the BGMEA Bhaban only. Due to lack of good and proper planning about Dhaka city by the authorities concerned, we, the people, are facing tremendous problems round the clock. The non-existence of BGMEA Complex, will certainly, not bring us all those facilities that we find absent today in Dhaka city. Under no circumstances, we are in favour of razing to the BGMEA Bhaban to the dust. Of course, to err is human and to forgive is divine. It is, of no use, to open the Pandora's Box. We wonder if our Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Bangladesh Secretariat Buildings, Bangladesh High Court building, Gano Bhaban, Dhaka City Corporation Building, WAPDA Building, Bangladesh Bank Building etc., have been constructed strictly in accordance with the approved plan, government rules and regulations. Nothing goes flawless in this country. Rather, almost everything is polluted ,everywhere there is corruption. It is reported that we do not now have the proper expertise and equipment needed for safe demolition of the large structures. We, all know both the leaders -- Leader of the house and Leader of the Opposition -- somehow consented to the construction of the BGMEA Bhahban. In the country, there are many expert engineers, designers and planners. Now, they may find out an excellent solution with a view to keeping the BGMEA building there, while planning for a bridge or an underground tunnel for facilitating the flow of water to the Hatirjheel canal. The authorities concerned may give post facto approval to the building, consequent upon finding out an alternative way out .It may , even, be better than existing plan and, thus, help settle the matter peacefully and economically in the interest of the nation . We, of course, hope for the best in the days to come. Ibnat Islam Etu & Ibsan Islam Edi Kalabagan Dhaka E-mail: saiful_ibsan@yahoo.com