Mughal heritage hurts in Old Dhaka

Heritage in Bangladesh is ephemeral: Here one day, gone the next. It swims in the backwaters of policymaking and public spending and surely takes a backseat to business.

In a case of architectural legacy pitted against greed, Old Dhaka’s Bara Katra and Chhota Katra at Chawkbazar, that drip with heritage of 17th-century Mughal architecture, have been overlooked in RAJUK’s master plan.

This, despite the government's Heritage Act that is there to ensure protection and integrity of the capital’s historic, aesthetic and religious monuments.

The government passed the Heritage Act on Feb 12, 2009, declaring 93 aesthetic buildings, the whole of the Shankhari Bazar, and nine lanes from Farashganj and Sutrapur heritage sites.

According to the Act, no construction is permitted within 250 metres of the protected zones, Chhota Katra and Bara Katra being two of them-- once the enclave of well-designed abodes for the well-heeled.

The Act gives protection to the two monuments, but, surprisingly, they have not found a place in RAJUK’s Detailed Area Plan (DAP).

RAJUK indicates protected places on the DAP map with brown marks. The Lalbagh Fort and the Dhaka Central Jail are among monuments with such protective marking. But Bara Katra and Chhota Katra are conspicuously missing.

The capital development agency seems to view heritage at these sites as a soft target, with little or no makeover or upgrade.

Urban Study Group, an NGO, has for long been campaigning for the protection of old Dhaka City areas.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, its CEO Taimur Ahmed said, “In RAJUK’s DAP plan one gets a hint of Chhota Katra but there is no trace of Bara Katra.”

“Now if anyone decides to build something near the protected place, how will RAJUK act? If RAJUK permits any construction, it will leave a permanent scar.”

Some developers were overly active in Old Dhaka to acquire plots, he said.

“The Archaeological Department is supposed to keep a watch. But is it really doing its duty?” he asks.

A building is in fact being built on the southern-west side of Chhota Katra while the population is just looking on helplessly.

A local businessman said RAJUK had stepped in to stop the construction about two months ago. But work resumed again on Sept 13.

“Once there were no monuments in front of Chhota Katra. But now there are many. If this goes on, Chhota Katra will cease to be visible in future.”

A soap factory greets a visitor entering Chhota Katra. Likewise, there is a flour mill at the rear. The raw materials of these factories are stored in the monument's many chambers. Some chambers, though, are locked.

The condition of Bara Katra is worse: a madrasa has occupied most of it, putting up toilets and urinals.

Students of Jamia Hossainiya Ashraful Ulum Madrasa said the institution's authorities repaired it many times.

Built following the design of caravanserai available in the Central Asia, they are being damaged or grabbed despite calls to mark, renovate and conserve them.

Bara Katra was built between 1644 and 1646 by Mughal governor of Bengal, Shah Suja, the second son of emperor Shahjahan, as his official residence. And Chhota Katra was built by Subedar Sayesta Khan between 1663 and 1664. Both were later used as Shoraikhana or resting places.

The word ‘Katra’ may have its origin in the Arabic word ‘Katara’, meaning colonnaded building. In ancient architectural term, Katra is a form of dormitory building around an oblong courtyard and used as a home for some of the rulers, members of the royal court and the nobility

Missionary Padre Leonardo established the first English-medium school in Dhaka at Choto Katra in 1816 during British rule.

Swadhin Sen, who teaches archaeology at Jahangirnagar University, said, “Both were very important structures of that time. Both are secular monuments. Such monuments are very rare today.”

He urged the government to save both buildings.

“The government should evict people occupying the area. Besides, the local MP and public representatives should take the initiative,” he said.

He also suggested an update of the current Archaeological Act.

The Department of Archeology under the culture ministry seemed lukewarm in its reaction to RAJUK’s negligence.

Ataur Rahman, Regional Director of the Department, said, “We asked the owner not to construct the building there. But he does not pay any heed to us as he is a local person.”

“The owner said he had RAJUK's sanction. I don't know why RAJUK has given him permission; generally, it cannot do so. We have informed police. Let's see what happens,” he said.

Asked about their plans to protect both monuments, he said, “We are trying to acquire the area. It will take some time, as the process isn't easy."

He said a committee had been formed with ministry representatives, and teachers from Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities.

Approached, RAJUK Member (Planning) Abdul Mannan suggested that the Authorised Officer-1, Aminur Rahman, be spoken to.

Rahman said, “If anyone wants to construct anything within 250 metres of an archaeological site, the project has to be approved by a special committee, and the design specially sanctioned. The building owner got special committee authoriaation but not the design approval.”

“We have already stopped the construction with police help,” he said.

But he offered no comment when asked about the DAP map leaving out the monuments.

Campaigners, meanwhile, point out that the exceptional heritage sites are not only an inheritance of the past, reflecting the rich and diverse history; they are also a legacy for future generations and their destruction would seriously weaken the foundations of society.

(Written by Biswadip Das)