Parliament design to be brought back

The Parliament Secretariat has initiated steps to bring back the main drawing of the building designed by architect Louis Kahn.

The initiative follows criticisms over the erection of a security wall around Parliament building.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued a directive in this regard, the Parliament Secretariat said.

Various social organisations protested the decision to erect the wall last year, saying the construction would not jell with the main design.

The prime minister had enquired about the original blueprint at a meeting with the Public Works Department and the Parliament Secretariat on Feb 23.

Hasina was informed that ‘several sections’ of the main design were not in the country.

She also learned that Bangladesh still owed the architect firm David Wisdom & Associates Tk 8.7 million for the work.

“The Prime Minister has directed us to bring the main plan after she heard that the firm is yet to get its dues. The Parliament Secretariat will now execute the order,” Md Ahsanul Haque Khan, chief architect the Department of Architecture, told bdnews24.com.

Khan said Louis Kahn had visited Bangladesh several times after Bangladesh's independence.

But he could not hand over some of the main drawings. The government, too, had not shown much interest in them.

During the past BNP-Jamaat alliance government, residences of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were built in the Parliament complex in violation of the main design.

The buildings were built defying a court order. A case in this regard is still pending.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told bdnews24.com the Parliament Secretariat had started approaching those concerned to get the design.

“Hope we will get them soon,” she said.

Selim Khan, executive engineer of Public Works Department at the Parliament Secretariat, said they had decided to postpone construction of the wall until the original plan arrived.

“It will then become clear whether the security wall will harm the main design.”

Earlier, on June 2 last year, at a meeting of the Parliament Commission, then Parliament leader and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered against taking up any step that did not conform to the main design.

She also suggested a discussion with experts to resolve the issue.

Architect Ahsanul Haque Khan said the design would be brought from Louis Kahn’s son.

They had already contacted his firm, Khan said.

The construction work of the Parliament Building had begun in 1961 during the term of former Pakistan President Ayub Khan.

Architect Mazharul Islam was appointed the project architect. Louis Kahn was made the chief architect of the project following his proposal.

The Parliament Building was formally opened on Jan 28, 1982.