Human chain to protect heritage building

People from all walks of life formed a human chain in front of Sylhet Central Saheed Minar at Chowhatta area in the city yesterday afternoon, protesting the plan to demolish a heritage building of the area.

The building, which was used as a hostel of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, is scheduled to be demolished in order to build the Sylhet District Hospital.

It was supposedly built by a zamindar in the 19th century, and the first civil hospital in Sylhet was established there in 1936.

Abdul Hye Al-Hadi, coordinator of Save the Heritage and Environment, said the building played a vital role in Sylhet's history.

Architect Shubhojit Chowdhury said, “Around five years ago, we conducted a study of the building to plan how to renovate the structure and transform it into a museum. But it is unfortunate that there are plans to demolish the  building.”

Folklore Researcher Niranjan Dey Jadu said, “The hall room of the building was a cultural platform of the city and even Ustad Allauddin Khan performed here in 1955.”

Abdul Karim Kim, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) Sylhet chapter, said, “We demand the building be protected, renovated and turned into a museum.”

After the human chain, the protesters marched toward the building and staged a demo by holding banners and placards.