The Sangsad Bhaban

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SOMETIME in the year 1984, a high level foreign delegation was taken on a tour of the Sangsad Bhaban Complex. The dignitaries were visibly impressed. In the end, the leader of the delegation wanted to know whether the Parliament was in session. Unfortunately, the country had no legislative body at that time. The leader curtly remarked --- such a nice building, but without any use. Sarcasm apart, have we really made any good use of that magnificent building!
Like the constitution and other entities, the Sangsad Bhaban is a symbol of our national identity. But one is pained to see that this sacred place has been desecrated time and again on the flimsiest of grounds. Don't we have any other place in the city to set up a trial court or a jail house, no matter whatever be the statute of the legal body or the profile of the inmates. The whole idea stems from some erroneous thought - pardon me!
Admittedly, the area is frequented by the pimps, vagabonds, junkies and vendors alike. Yet, this is the seat of the highest legislative body. Unfortunately, we have made all sorts of experiment with this sanctorum of our national identity including housing decorator's pandals, court compounds and jail houses!
The Sangsad Bhaban is an architectural master piece -- just see its sheer elegance. Those of you who don't believe me, go and have a second look: look from the east, from the west, from the north and from the south, if possible climb one of the NAM building and a catch a glimpse of this superb setting from the top. Some enthusiast tried to imitate and copy Louis Kahn. Evidences of their failed attempts are plenty in Gulshan, Baridhara and Uttara. Perhaps you can copy a design, but you can't duplicate a dream or a theme.
The PWD might be the legitimate owner of the land and the concrete and steel, but the place really belongs to the people of Bangladesh and its custodian. And none other than the Honourable Speaker is the keeper and custodian. But what authority and assertion can we expect from the reverend gentleman who doesn't miss a single opportunity to cross the over bridge and show up at the sepulcher with a bouquet to demonstrate his real loyalty and sense of belongingness.
I am neither a Machiavellist nor a jingo. But I will hazard a prophecy -- in a few decades, our Sangsad Bhaban might be declared as one of the wonders and might well make a place for itself in the world heritage list of UNESCO.
PS: In these days of reforms, the EC may make a regulation barring the Speakers from contesting elections in the next 99 years of their relinquishing the office so that they are free from all encumbrances, political and psychological.
Zakirul Islam
An anguished Bangalee