Anything obstructing drainage flow has to be removed

Clockwise(from top-left): BGMEA building, plots for Hilton Hotel, BTMA Bhaban and FBCCI Bhaban.Photo: File Photo

Unauthorised structures in the city's Begunbari canal have to be removed and allotment of plots in the area must be cancelled to achieve the goals of Tk 1, 474 crore Begunbari-Hatirjheel integrated development project, said experts.
Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project on October 8 with a view to restoring water flow of the canal for drainage and easing east-west traffic load in the capital by constructing a ring-road.
Under the project, Begunbari canal will be dredged to mitigate waterlogging in the city.
Vice-chancellor of Brac University Professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury who is a civil engineer and traffic planning expert, said, "There should not be any obstruction within the canal area if the project is aimed at serving drainage purposes restoring the Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel catchment area."
An expert team of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) led by Professor Mujibur Rahman has been employed to carry out a comprehensive feasibility study for detailed designing of the project.
The team is ready to start the study and it may take a little more than six months.
"Our priority in the detailed drainage study would be to ensure drainage facility and adequate flow of storm water," said Prof Rahman. "In case we find any structure in the channel that obstructs the drainage flow, we will recommend its removal."
LGRD and Cooperatives Adviser Md Anwarul Iqbal at an inter-ministerial meeting on October 18 instructed the authorities concerned not to allot land in the Begunbari canal area which would come under the Begunbari-Hatirjheel integrated development project.
Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) earmarks the Begunbari canal as a natural canal and a designated flood flow zone, prohibiting any change to its character.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has constructed a 15-storey commercial building in the city's Begunbari canal area without obtaining design approval from the authorities.
The BNP government, at the fag end of its tenure, allotted four plots to Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Hotel Hilton (Millennium Holding Limited) and International Arbitration Centre in violation of environment and wetland conservation related laws.
The BNP government had also leased out eight large plots in the Bugunbari canal including four for CNG filling stations, not only in violation of the city's master plan but also bending Bangladesh Railway's land management rules of 2006, sources said.
According to high officials of Bangladesh Railway, the government has cancelled plot allotments in favour of BTMA and International Arbitration Centre. But it is yet to cancel allotments to FBCCI and Hotel Hilton.
While two former prime ministers -- Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina -- were involved in creation of the 'unauthorised' BGMEA building, the incumbent caretaker government too seems irresolute on what actions to take against it.
The then prime minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation plaque of the 15-storey high-rise on November 28, 1998 while another former premier Khaleda Zia inaugurated the complete building on October 8, 2006.
Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) KAM Haroon said, "The BGMEA building is illegal, as it has not obtained design approval as of today. We will action as per recommendations of the Buet expert team."
The government is thinking on what action should be taken regarding BGMEA building, said Public Works Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein on August 2, replying to a question at a press briefing held at the secretariat on the Supreme Court verdict in favour of demolishing unauthorised height of the 22-storey Rangs Bhaban.
Mubasshar Hussain, president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) said it is the duty of Prime Minister's Office (now Chief Adviser's Office) to check legality and authenticity of an establishment before the PM or chief adviser inaugurates it.
"The very presence of the country's chief executive at a site of illegal establishment creates not only embarrassment among the government agencies and officials concerned but also a false impression of authenticity among the general public," said Hussain, who is also chairman-elect (2007-2009) of Architecture Regional Council Asia.
The same team of Prof Mujibur Rahman carried out a similar survey in 2004 (final report submitted in 2005) in the Bengunbari canal and entire stretch of the Hatirjheel for a proposed 13-acre development scheme of Rajuk.
The Rajuk board at a meeting on 14 July 2003 instructed BGMEA to consult with the Buet expert team and obtain clearance for its 15-storey building, which BGMEA didn't.
Prof Mujibur Rahman said, "BGMEA did never turn up for any consultation with us."
Prof Rahman earlier said a structure like BGMEA building is 'not compatible' with the idea of developing and conserving the Begunbari canal as a sewer facility.
"This time, we will be all the more focused on ensuring environmental and drainage aspects of the Begunbari canal," said Prof Rahman.
Responding to BGMEA's claim that Buet team kept the BGMEA building 'fit-in' in the earlier survey, Prof Rahman said, "In fact, we just identified the building in our topographic survey as it was already in place as an existing object."
BGMEA President Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) said that they had started construction before obtaining design approval thinking they would certainly get the approval. "But I agree that rules-wise it has been an unauthorised work. We should have constructed the building only after having obtained the approval."
Regarding demolition and removal of various obstructions in the Begunbari canal and Hatirjheel, Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed said at the Ecnec meeting that the issue would be resolved as per the existing laws, meeting sources said.