Hatirjheel to offer more entertainment facilities

The government has taken an initiative to introduce some new entertainment facilities to make Hatirjheel project more attractive for visitors.

The Hatirjheel Area Integrated Development Project authorities in its fourth revised version added some more facilities, including a theatre, laser-show, waterbus and water-taxi service, fast food shops and restaurants so that the city dwellers can spend quality time there.

Since the partial launching 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.

The project, kicked off in July 2007, was first scheduled to be completed by December 2010. As per the fourth revised version approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on August 25, 2015, the project will be completed with an estimated cost of Tk 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 Nazrul Islam said the theatre would have the capacity to accommodate 2,500 people and a car-parking area will also be built for 250 vehicles. The laser show will be arranged for the visitors through a ticketing system.

Waterbus and water-taxi service will be introduced so that visitors can roam around the project area as well as travel to Rampura-Moghbazar-Karwanbazar area for daily purposes.

Restaurants will be built at 22 spots and will be leased out to intending people.

The project might exceed the expected completion year 2016 if the deputy commissioner of Dhaka delays to fix land for constructing a flyover on Hatirjheel-Rampura road, said Project Officer Maj Shakil.

About the security of the area, he said, "We have sent a proposal to the home ministry to establish a police station named 'Hatirjheel' to ensure fool-proof security in the area."