The Rangs Bhaban saga
Sunday, 5 August 2007
The 21-storey Rangs Bhaban located at the city's Bijoy Sarani intersection has been a tall symbol of defiance against rule of law and abuse of power. There could be hundreds of both tall and dwarf concrete structures built in various parts of the Dhaka city with certain deviations from the plans approved by the Rajdhani Unnyan Kartipakhha (RAJUK) but the Rangs Bhaban that has been a stumbling block to the construction of the planned road linking Bijoy Sarani with Tejgaon Industrial Area is an exception because of its shady past.
The government of autocrat Ershad, allegedly, was instrumental in granting permission to the construction of a nine-storey building at the present site of the Rangs Bhban in 1989 in violation of the civil aviation department's prohibition against construction of buildings above five-storey tall. All the political governments that came to power since the ouster of Ershad had pretended to work against the construction of the Bhaban but, in reality, because of secret 'go ahead' signal from powerful people, the owner not only continued with the construction works of the building but also managed to add another 12 storeys to the original plan. The people stuck-up in the traffic gridlocks at the Bijoy Sarani intersection during rush hours used to look at the Rangs Bhaban with contempt holding it responsible for their unnecessary sufferings and loss of valuable time.
The present caretaker government decided in principle in the month of April last to dismantle the Rangs Bhaban and, accordingly, reactivated an appeal made by the RAJUK against the High Court verdict authorising the construction of the Bhaban. The Supreme Court order issued last Thursday to demolish the structures above six storeys of the Rangs Bhaban, thus, is being viewed as a great victory for rule of law and against the evil nexus that developed over the years between the corrupt sections of the ruling class and the business community. The law adviser, meanwhile, has made the government's intent clear; the administration, in accordance with legal provisions, would soon acquire the land and six-storey Rangs Bhaban, pay compensation to the owner and start construction of the planned road linking Bijoy Sarani and Tejgaon Industrial Area. But that may not be that easy because of the fact a good number of residential buildings have been constructed over the years with the approval from RAJUK on the pathway of the link road with the Rangs Bhban working as their protective shield.
While the people have in general appreciated the government move to get the illegal part of the Rangs Bhaban demolished, they did not like the way it forced the inmates to vacate the building within a few hours' time. The tenants or those who have purchased spaces had nothing to do with the illegal act of the owner of the building. They should not have been subjected to unnecessary sufferings for the fault of the owner. It is really difficult to understand why the government did not feel it proper to give enough time -at least a week-to the offices and other establishments located above sixth floor to remove their equipment and other valuables to safety. Besides, was it necessary to smash all the windowpanes littering the street below with innumerable number broken glasses and halting vehicular movement for hours together? The window-frames could have been easily removed in tact. All these acts on the part of RAJUK did not go well with the millions of people who witnessed the plight of the inmates of the tower building and the demolition work live on the television screen. The people expect the state entities to work more responsibly.
The government of autocrat Ershad, allegedly, was instrumental in granting permission to the construction of a nine-storey building at the present site of the Rangs Bhban in 1989 in violation of the civil aviation department's prohibition against construction of buildings above five-storey tall. All the political governments that came to power since the ouster of Ershad had pretended to work against the construction of the Bhaban but, in reality, because of secret 'go ahead' signal from powerful people, the owner not only continued with the construction works of the building but also managed to add another 12 storeys to the original plan. The people stuck-up in the traffic gridlocks at the Bijoy Sarani intersection during rush hours used to look at the Rangs Bhaban with contempt holding it responsible for their unnecessary sufferings and loss of valuable time.
The present caretaker government decided in principle in the month of April last to dismantle the Rangs Bhaban and, accordingly, reactivated an appeal made by the RAJUK against the High Court verdict authorising the construction of the Bhaban. The Supreme Court order issued last Thursday to demolish the structures above six storeys of the Rangs Bhaban, thus, is being viewed as a great victory for rule of law and against the evil nexus that developed over the years between the corrupt sections of the ruling class and the business community. The law adviser, meanwhile, has made the government's intent clear; the administration, in accordance with legal provisions, would soon acquire the land and six-storey Rangs Bhaban, pay compensation to the owner and start construction of the planned road linking Bijoy Sarani and Tejgaon Industrial Area. But that may not be that easy because of the fact a good number of residential buildings have been constructed over the years with the approval from RAJUK on the pathway of the link road with the Rangs Bhban working as their protective shield.
While the people have in general appreciated the government move to get the illegal part of the Rangs Bhaban demolished, they did not like the way it forced the inmates to vacate the building within a few hours' time. The tenants or those who have purchased spaces had nothing to do with the illegal act of the owner of the building. They should not have been subjected to unnecessary sufferings for the fault of the owner. It is really difficult to understand why the government did not feel it proper to give enough time -at least a week-to the offices and other establishments located above sixth floor to remove their equipment and other valuables to safety. Besides, was it necessary to smash all the windowpanes littering the street below with innumerable number broken glasses and halting vehicular movement for hours together? The window-frames could have been easily removed in tact. All these acts on the part of RAJUK did not go well with the millions of people who witnessed the plight of the inmates of the tower building and the demolition work live on the television screen. The people expect the state entities to work more responsibly.