Century-old Mongolabash at Sutrapur: Renovation at the cost of historical aesthetic
The century-old Mongolabash at Dhaka's Sutrapur is being renovated to improve the living space of Kabi Nazrul Government College students, but this improvement is happening at the cost of the building's historical value and aesthetic style.
Mongolabash is well-known in the area as a place for Mukti Khelaghor. It was built near the end of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century by Zamindar Jatindra Kumar Saha. The esteemed Zamindar left the country after the partition in 1947.
The building has been used as a dormitory for students of the college since 1997 and as a hub for cultural organisation Mukti Khelaghor since 1973. The building was in need of renovation to better accommodate the students, but the work is being done using cement plaster instead of the lime shurki (brick dust) used for the original structure.
Taimur Islam, chief executive of Urban Study Group (USG) yesterday led a human chain in front of Mongolabash. Representatives of USG met with the college's principal last week and were assured that steps will be taken within a week. However, the work remained halted for just one day after the meeting, and the use of cement plaster was resumed soon afterwards.
Taimur explained that renovation of historical buildings should be done in a way that preserves the structure's original aesthetics instead of modifying it. "Using cement plaster for renovation will weaken the structure as it was built using separate materials, and it will ruin the building's historical aesthetic," he said.
"We were supposed to prepare a design for primary renovation work for them and we would also identify the places where renovation is necessary," he said.
There was a time in Dhaka's history when this building was considered one of the most beautiful structures in the city besides Rup Lal House and Ahsan Manjil, explained Taimur, adding that it was also used to shoot films and drama.
"We have studied buildings such as these and we know using cement plaster will cause more harm than good in renovating the structure. Removing the shurki will not help preserve the building," said Taimur.
Principal of Kabi Nazrul Government College, Prof IK Selim Ullah said the work is continuing as "no one has given any written proposal in this regard."
"The compound is far from the college and worth crores of money. It is often occupied by others besides the students. We couldn't even clean the building and put up a signboard of the college due to interference from others," he said. However, he did not specify which parties are interfering with these activities.
"This organisation [USG] that's now creating obstacles [to the renovation] did not come to us earlier," said the principal, "If they submit a formal proposal then we can carry it forward to the authorities to take necessary steps."
"The students feel insecure in the building. It needs better facilities and renovation," explained Prof Selim Ullah.
About the meeting with USG, he said only one student came to them but they did not receive anything written.
Dhiraj Bhashkor Nath, a former student of the dormitory said, "We went to the principal to stop the work and he said it would halt for a week, but the work was then resumed in a hurry."
Md Tito Khan, a student of the college and former human resource development secretary of the executive committee of Bangladesh Chhatra League's Kabi Nazrul College Unit said renovation is very necessary at the moment as the washrooms, dining room and bedrooms of students are in terrible condition.
"However I also would want the renovation to preserve the building's aesthetics. But the renovation is more necessary," he said.
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