‘I will go to court to save town hall’

Protesting the move to demolish the historic Cumilla town hall to construct a "new and modern establishment", reserved seat lawmaker Anjum Sultana Sima yesterday alleged that Cumilla-6 MP AKM Bahauddin Bahar, one of the initiators of the move, is trying to do so for business purposes.

She said Saturday's public hearing over the acquisition of this century-old Birchandra Ganapathagar and Nagar Milonayton (the town hall) as a heritage property was nothing but a charade.

"Only the followers of the lawmakers spoke at the hearing. People of Cumilla do not want the town hall to be demolished," she said while speaking at a press conference at her office on in the town.

For the last couple of months, activists and residents have been protesting the move to demolish the historic town hall, a centre for educational, cultural, intellectual and socio-political activities.

The "new and modern" town hall will include an auditorium, multi-storey building, VIP lounge, car parking and other facilities, according to officials concerned.

There is also a four-storey market on the property, which is owned by lawmaker Bahar, an adviser to the town hall committee.

"The town hall should be renovated not demolished," Sima told the press conference.

"If MP Bahar doesn't change his decision, I will go to court to save to the town hall... I will file a writ petition against his decision."

She also criticised the additional secretary to the cultural affairs ministry, who presided over Satuday's public hearing, and the town hall committee.

Established in 1885 in the heart of the town in Kandirpaar area, Cumilla Town Hall stands tall on a sprawling 3.4 acres of land.

It was constructed by Tripura King Birchandra Manikka Bahadur. A library and a two-storey auditorium were also built.

A witness to some of the most important events in our history such as the Language Movement and Liberation War, this town hall has been graced by the presence of many distinguished individuals.