Mughal-era bridge Hatirpool facing extinction
Locals have demanded withdrawal of a decision by Roads and Highways Department (RHD) to acquire the land of a historical bridge named Hatirpool, two century-old graveyards and a 40-year-old mosque for expansion of Dhaka-Sylhet highway.
Those structures lie north of the highway at Bariura village in Sarail upazila. Local people have submitted a written petition to Brahmanbaria deputy commissioner (DC) in this regard.
In the petition, one Jasim Uddin, a resident of the area, said the bridge, locally known as Hatirpool, was built during Mughal era. In 1650, Dewan Shahbaz Ali built the historical bridge made of lime, stone and bricks. As elephants used to take rest beside the bridge then, locals called it Hatirpool.
Apart from this, there are two three-hundred-year-old cemeteries stretching up to two kilometers from Islamabad village to Shahbazpur via Bariura village to the north side of the highway. Inhabitants of Bariura, Islamabad and Bochhiura in Sarail and Moindo of Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila bury bodies of their near and dear ones in the graveyards.
Except the two, there are no other cemeteries in the areas, said locals.
The 40-year-old Bariura Bazar Jame Mosque is also situated to the north side of the highway. Buyers, sellers and locals used to perform prayers in the mosque.
According to Brahmanbaria Roads and Highways Department, the government has already taken a decision to widen the two-lane Dhaka-Sylhet highway into six lanes. Asian Development Bank will provide financial support. The expansion work of the road is scheduled to start this year. The survey work has already been started to acquire lands to the north side of the highway, which angered locals.
Bakul Mia, another resident of Bariura village, said for the road expansion, RHD can easily acquire the land on the south side of the highway stretching from Kuttapara intersection to Shahbazpur bus stand where at least five makeshift kitchen markets are located but it does not happen.
It is a matter of sorrow that the department has recently taken a decision to acquire Hatirpool, which was declared a protected archaeological site by local administration in 1992, said Bakul.
Contacted, Brahmanbaria RHD Executive Engineer Md Shamim Al-Mamun said they are informed about the demand. They will take it under active consideration when the project will be finalised.
DC Hayat-Ud-Dowla Khan said according to law, the land of any protected archaeological site cannot be acquired.
As the road expansion project is now in its initial stage, no final decision has been taken in this regard till now, he said.
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