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Published : 27 Jun 2025, 02:36 AM
As Eid-ul-Azha brought the capital to a standstill, a quieter, and more troubling, activity surged in Old Dhaka as demolition crew silently moved in on Old Dhaka’s heritage.
One of the targets: the century-old Mohammad Nasiruddin Memorial Bhaban in Narinda, steeped in literary and journalistic legacy.
It wasn’t alone -- multiple historic structures were damaged or razed in the same period, exposing once again the fragility of Old Dhaka’s cultural past.
A deep-dive into the matter showed the destruction is driven by a combination of private land disputes, government neglect, and encroachment, with little to no effort being made to conserve these buildings.
Among the demolishers are descendants of the original owners, commercial developers, and, in some cases, the state itself.
The Nasiruddin Memorial Bhaban on Sharat Gupta Road was home to the renowned editor of literary magazine Saogat, Mohammad Nasiruddin, the pioneering editor of Begum, Nurjahan Begum, and children's writer Rokonuzzaman Khan, also known as Dadabhai. From the 1950s to 1970s, the house was a cultural hub, frequented by many literary figures.
Earlier this month, ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the first-ever sewage pumping station in Dhaka, dating back over a century and located in Narinda, was also demolished. The site had historical significance as it was part of the city’s early sanitation infrastructure.
Urban Study Group (USG), a civil society organisation working on conservation in Old Dhaka, says this is not an isolated trend.
Its Chief Executive Taimur Islam, told bdnews24.com that “at least four historic buildings have been vandalised or partially destroyed in the past month alone”. He said, “Many others remain occupied, with no initiative from the authorities to protect them.”
In a statement, USG expressed alarm at what it called a coordinated wave of heritage destruction during the holiday lull: “The simultaneous demolition of so many structures during Eid has left us deeply disturbed.”
Some of the demolitions occurred on private property, others on state-managed or state-owned land. In at least one case, a court order prohibiting demolition was allegedly ignored, the group said.
Heritage advocates warn that without urgent intervention, including legislative protection, restoration initiatives, and public accountability, Old Dhaka’s past could vanish brick by brick.
“Each of these buildings holds a piece of the city’s soul,” said USG's Taimur. “We are losing more than structures. We are losing stories, memories, and identity.”
ATTEMPT TO DEMOLISH NASIRUDDIN BHABAN
Five years ago, poet Tokon Thakur shot a film titled Kata on the grounds of the Nasiruddin Memorial Bhaban, drawing from a short story by Shahidul Zahir.
The film touched on social and cultural themes from the 1960s through the 1990s.
For nine months, Thakur lived in the house while filming.
He told bdnews24.com, “Even then I heard it was going to be torn down. It was being discussed within the family.”
He added that “one faction of the family tried to preserve the house. The government did not step in. Now it seems both sides have agreed to the demolition.”
“The state we live in doesn’t seem to care about heritage,” he said.
“I filmed in over 70 old houses in Dhaka. Many of them no longer exist. We’re not the kind of nation that preserves memory. If the current owners want to raze the house, what can we do? The state itself doesn't believe in preservation.”
The Department of Archaeology confirmed that a High Court order exists requiring preservation of century-old structures. Acting on that, both the department and USG filed general diaries with the police on Jun 14 to halt the demolition. The police responded by suspending the work.
An officer of the department has been tasked with assessing the heritage value of the property. If it qualifies, the department says it will open discussions with the owners about preserving it.
Gendaria police chief Abu Shahed Khan told bdnews24.com, “We sent a team after receiving the GD. The demolition has been paused.”
On a visit to the property on Jun 19, the front gate was found locked, but from the street, the damage was visible: a ground-floor window had been removed, bricks and debris littered the stairway.
A fruit seller nearby said, “This was a shooting house. Now they’re saying it will become a large apartment complex.”
Standing in front of the house was former Jagannath University fine arts student Hasan Ali.
“This house is over 100 years old. It should be preserved as heritage,” he said. “Many historic buildings in Old Dhaka have been occupied -- some turned into garages, others into spice stores. The government should declare the whole area a heritage zone.”
Sub-inspector Tanzilur Rahman, assigned to the case, confirmed: “No demolition work is happening now.”
FAMILY DISAGREEMENT AND STATE INACTION
In 2017, Flora Nasrin Khan, granddaughter of Mohammad Nasiruddin and daughter of Nurjahan Begum, petitioned for a High Court writ seeking heritage status for the building. But she later withdrew it.
“We wanted it declared a heritage site, but the government didn’t act,” she said. “Eventually, we dropped the case. The court is no longer involved.”
Flora said her late mother had passed the house on to her younger sister, Rina Yasmin Bithi, whose two daughters now live in Australia. “The decision is now up to them,” she said.
Attempts to reach Bithi’s daughter, Priota Iftekhar, via Messenger went unanswered.
Locals said a real estate developer has taken over the house and plans to construct a high-rise for sale. Flora declined to name the developer, saying, “Since my nieces are now the owners, they can sell or hand it over to anyone.”
Historian Hashem Sufi said the state must act.
“It should be determined whether this was allocated or purchased. Either way, the government should acquire it and preserve it. I visited this house many times as a child attending Kachikachar Mela.”
Mukhlesur Rahman Bhuiyan, custodian of the Lalbagh Fort Museum, filed the archaeological department’s general diary.
“A Supreme Court order requires protection of buildings with historical value,” he said. “One of our officials is preparing a report.”
SEWAGE STATION REDUCED TO RUBBLE
A visit to the site of the Narinda Sewage Pumping Station, once part of Dhaka’s first modern sewage system, revealed debris and quietness.
Inside the gated compound, old bricks and mortar lay strewn. A security guard, identified only by Ripon, barred entry and photography, saying: “You need permission from senior WASA officials.”
Locals confirmed the building was demolished about a month ago.
USG claimed in a statement that the station was protected under a court order, which was violated by Dhaka WASA.
“This structure was part of Dhaka’s first modern sewage system,” it said. “Its demolition is a clear violation of a court directive, carried out by a government agency. This is not only alarming but illegal.”
WASA’s Deputy Managing Director (O&M) AKM Shahid Uddin confirmed the demolition, saying: “The building was in a risky state. Another building on the premises may be preserved.”
Calling the demolition “unjust”, Hashem said: “WASA could have built a new facility elsewhere and preserved the old structure.”
SHANKHANIDHI HOUSE NOW A GARAGE
At Tipu Sultan Road, the Shankhanidhi House -- originally the Radhakrishna Temple -- is now a shell of its past.
Its iron balconies have collapsed. The ground floor houses multiple auto repair shops, beside Salimullah College and a revered shrine.
A red signboard from RAJUK marks it “unsafe”. Yet workers bustle inside with machinery, while pickup trucks drive in and out. A sign for the Bangladesh Engineering Industries Owners’ Association hangs from the building, but no one inside agreed to comment.
Despite being listed by the archaeology department four decades ago, no preservation work has been undertaken.
RAJUK Development Control Director Kamrul Islam declined to comment when contacted on Jun 22.
Zone-7 Director Razia Sultana later said, “We will investigate whether it is occupied and inform the proper authorities.”
ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT FAILURES
Hashem blamed the archaeology department for failing to fulfil its mandate.
“They always say they don’t have enough staff. But even with what they have, there’s no proper work. The government needs to intervene at the highest level.”
Sufi said heritage buildings often gain their value from unique architecture or historical context. “These should be preserved not just for education, but to pass on our heritage to future generations.”
Architect and conservation expert Abu Sayeed M Ahmed noted that a 2018 High Court order required protection of 2,200 heritage buildings listed by the USG.
“The court directed that their archaeological value be assessed without harming them. Seven years later, the department has failed to submit a final report.”
Repeated attempts to reach Archaeology Director General Sabina Alam failed.
Deputy Director of Heritage and Conservation Rakhi Roy said the department is filing quarterly progress reports. “The field survey isn’t complete yet, but we’ve made substantial progress,” she claimed.
One senior official, requesting anonymity, said: “We don’t have the manpower to remove illegal occupants. This requires stronger action from the highest levels of government.”
Neither Cultural Affairs Secretary Mofidur Rahman nor Cultural Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki responded to repeated calls or written queries.
Abu Sayeed warned that without financial incentives, private owners will continue to demolish old properties.
“Market forces are strong. Without compensation or stricter enforcement, people will quietly tear them down.”
URGENT APPEAL FOR ACTION
The USG said, “Despite a 2018 court ruling, no substantial progress has been made due to mismanagement, lack of coordination, and absence of will -- especially from the archaeology department. We have already lost structures like the Neelam Ghar, parts of Dhaka Collegiate School, and Boro Katra.”
The group issued a five-point call to action:
• Immediate halt to all ongoing demolitions in Old Dhaka
• Full protection and restoration of all listed heritage buildings
• Interim protection of USG-listed structures until a final list is drawn up
• Proper evaluation of all USG-listed buildings and formal inclusion in the final heritage list
• Adoption of a firm, effective and transparent policy to protect cultural and architectural heritage for future generations
[Writing in English by Syed Mahmud Onindo]
