‘Hammer blow to history’ as old red building at Khamarbarhi being dismantled

The authorities are tearing down the laboratory building at Khamarbarhi in Farmgate of Dhaka where revolutionary researches for Bangladesh's agriculture had been conducted.

Many architects have expressed frustration over the move to demolish the red building, which had added to the beauty of the street with a park on the opposite side.

A heritage campaigner has demanded that the authorities preserve the building considering its historic significance.

On Wednesday, some parts of the two-storey building's roof were already torn down by a contractor who provided a single name, Shakil.

"We are pulling it down for four days. I secured the job through tender eight months ago," he told bdnews24.com.

When contacted for comments, the Department of Agricultural Expansion or DAE Director General Md Golam Maruf told bdnews24.com that it was the government's decision to tear the building down.

He declined further comments, saying the building was not under his department anymore despite its significance in the history of agricultural research.

He advised Cotton Development Board or CDB, which owns the building now, be contacted.

CDB Executive Director Md Farid Uddin told bdnews24.com by telephone that he was in a meeting and asked to call him again after an hour. But he did not take bdnews24.com calls anymore.

Taimur Islam, Chief Executive of Urban Study Group, which works to protect the rich architectural heritage of Dhaka City, has criticised the demolition of the building.

"Many buildings that are not listed as heritage are being demolished lately. The number of such unlisted building is over 2,500. Around 100 of these are preserved. But many of the buildings out of the list need to be preserved," he said.

According to Taimur, the building is important for both historic and architectural reasons.

He said a Famine Commission was formed after the famine in Odisha in the mid-18th century. Some buildings were constructed in Dhaka's Farmgate area as part of the work to expand agriculture at the time. The buildings were extended when Bengal was divided in 1905, Taimur said.

He also said the building was rich in architectural value. "It is like the courts and DC council buildings constructed during the colonial period."

"Besides this, agriculture is the most important sector of Bangladesh. And now we are wiping out our history in agriculture."

Taimur said the entire area should have been preserved. "Because it is linked with an important chapter of our history. It witnessed the technological changes of our agriculture. There were seven to eight such buildings. These should have been preserved in line with the UNESCO Convention."

When the work to demolish the building was under way, some architects rushed to the spot.

One of them, the Institute of Architects Bangladesh or IAB General Secretary Qazi Muhammad Arif told bdnews24.com: "We want this building to be preserved for its historic significance. Many such buildings are there in the country. It's the government's duty to preserve them."

"As professionals, we think the buildings which can be preserved should be preserved."

About the building at Khamarbarhi, Arif said, "I've heard that a high-rise office building will be built here. But there could be steps to preserve the old buildings. Now it seems too late."

The institute's Vice-President Jalal Ahmed told bdnews24.com at the scene that he knew of no design of the building. "The demolition work has gone too far ahead. The building doesn't appear to be in such bad shape to be taken down."

The Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology’s Associate Professor Shehzad Zahir said the development of Bangladesh's agriculture sector was made through scientific research.

"And this building was the laboratory. Agricultural research started here. This building was a pioneer in Bangladesh's agricultural development," he said.

"That's why the demolition must stop right now and measures should be taken to prserve the building. It's of late colonial period. The shedding devices in front of the windows are beautiful and these have linked our local architecture with those of Europe," he said.

BRAC University's Assistant Professor architect Sajid-Bin-Doza said the building was also suitable for the tropical climate of Bangladesh.

"We are ashamed and hurt. It is all the more unfortunate that there is no design of the building. We haven't shown the right attitude in preserving our traditions. The authorities should have at least clicked some photos so that we would be able to show it to our next generations."

But he said it would be very costly to preserve the building now since it has been bludgeoned with hammer.