Modernisation of Sufia Kamal National Public Library: The end of an era
What many would call the end to an era, the 67-year-old Sufia Kamal National Public Library has been demolished as part of a modernisation project.
Md Abubakar Siddique, director general of the Department of Public Libraries, said it is necessary to renovate the old building as its capacity is limited. "Digitalisation of the library is another important aspect to maintain international standards. That way, readers will be able to read books online from both inside and outside of the library."
"We will keep all the modern facilities in the new buildings and build three conference halls," added the director general.
The Tk 524-crore project -- approved in May 2021 -- will be handled by the Public Works Department. The project is scheduled to be completed in June 2024.
Siddique said around 1.76 lakh books have been shifted to the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) building but many of them could not be kept there due to space constraints. "The new building will be able to accommodate around five lakh books. We have already started demolishing the old one."
Although it is possible to increase the library's capacity by modernisation, we will lose its historical importance. These buildings need to be protected for the sake of sustainability and protection of our history and heritage.
However, the decision has garnered mixed reactions among experts and citizens.
Criticising the move, former general secretary of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Adil Mohammad Khan said the traditional importance of the public library is immense.
"Although it is possible to increase the library's capacity by modernisation, we will lose its historical importance. These buildings need to be protected for the sake of sustainability and protection of our history and heritage," said Adil, also executive director of Institute for Planning and Development.
The authority could take out new land and construct new public libraries instead of demolishing the old ones, he added.
However, Iqbal Habib, former joint secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, said structures with historical significance and buildings that had the involvement of eminent persons in their construction should be preserved. If the buildings in consideration do not fall under this category and renovation can increase their functional efficiency, then they should be renovated.
The library does not fall under this category, according to Iqbal Habib.
"The amount of land and position on which the old structure stood created way too many obstacles for it to be considered a good design. Hence, its renovation is necessary," said Habib, whose architecture firm also participated in the design competition for the new structure of the library.
"The government could conduct the renovation by keeping the original structure intact and using other spaces in the vicinity," said Suraiya Parveen, a Pallabi resident and former Dhaka University student.
According to the new design, the library complex will be divided into two separate nine-storey buildings. One will be facing the south, where the present library building is situated.
Meanwhile, a glass plaza will be built towards the north, adjacent to the museum complex, which will be used as the digital library, said another official of the Department of Public Libraries.
There will be a plaza level in between two buildings and a cafeteria on the western end of the plaza, said Siddique. Beneath the ground, three auditoriums, including the Shawkat Osman auditorium, will be reconstructed for arranging public events, he added.
The archetypal pyramid-shaped stairs in front of the national library will be replaced with long parallel stairs like the old establishment. The main complex will also accommodate a 10-storey residential building for the library staffers.
The foundation of Sufia Kamal National Public Library was laid in 1954 at the current space of Dhaka University Central Library. It was shifted to the present location at Shahbagh in 1978.
In 2017, a design submitted jointly by Cubeinside Design Ltd and Dcon Design Studio (DCON CUBEINSIDE JV) won the bid out of 65 submissions. In the original plan, the library and national museum were supposed to be renovated together.
However, due to some bureaucratic complications, only the national library will be brought under the project, for now, said Siddique.