~story by Mikey Leung~
Originally aired at Asia Calling on 11 Oct 2008.
Architects fear destruction of Shakhari Bazaar [6:07m]:
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This week, Hindu people across South Asia celebrated Durga Puja, the biggest celebration of their cultural heritage.
But throughout the country, this heritage is actually being actively destroyed or left to decay. One area of the capital is being particularly targeted by developers. Known as Shakhari Bazar, historic buildings are being torn down one by one in a bid to modernize the area, despite the efforts of some conservationists.
Michael Leung covers this debate from Dhaka.
“I’m just standing inside a tented area of Shakhari Bazaar, There is a holy man making prayers from an ancient text in front of a Durga Idol. There are dozen of sweets boxes, fruits and flowers scattered around. This is a sacred time for the people here.”
Hindu artisans, musicians, and craftsmen have lived for generations in this Bazaar. Some of the houses are more than 300 years old. Their way of life, like their houses, has barely changed for centuries. Local Architect Taimur Islam says because of this the area must be preserved.
“Shakhari Bazaar is the oldest living neighborhood in Dhaka. We are celebrating Dhaka’s 400th anniversary this year. This is the anniversary of Dhaka’s founding as the eastern capital of the Mughal Empire.”
Islam is campaigning to have the buildings declared a heritage site. But he faces an uphill battle. Dozens of people shuffle inside one of these old houses. It’s a plastered brick building, three stories high.
With European-style columns, the building shows the influence of Bangladesh’s colonial past. Today, the people are admiring a colorful statue of the goddess Durga statue built for the holiday in the courtyard of Bishwajit Bhulu’s home.
His house is believed to be 80 years old, although there are some that are almost 300 years old on this street. While a group conservationists and architects like Islam would like to see them preserved, Bhulu has other ideas for his property.
“I want to redevelop my house and make a better place to live. The people of Shakhari Bazaar already live in difficult, crowded conditions. If my house is declared a heritage site, I will not agree. I think it is illegal for them to tell the owners of the houses what to do.”
As the owner of the property, Bhulu wants to make more money redeveloping it. He says he could build shops and facilities improving the community, instead of being stuck with what he calls an old crumbling house.
“It’s my house and my source of income. If you can provide me compensation then you can call it heritage. Why do you call it heritage? Otherwise I cannot provide for myself and my family. If it is declared then I deserve benefits.”
The debate over Bangladesh’s heritage buildings isn’t limited to just Shakhari Bazaar. Many of its old temples, Hindu or Muslim, are being left to decay around the country. In Bangladesh, there simply aren’t enough resources to provide for the people whose jobs it is to take care of the temples.
Bina Rai is one such temple caretaker. She lives in a dark, cramped space behind another Hindu temple of the city with her daughter.
“I’m facing many difficulties here. My living quarters aren’t even decent enough. The roof leaks when it rains and I have no running water or electricity.”
While the debate rages on in the media and amongst the people of Shakhari Bazaar, buildings are still coming down. Just a few weeks ago, the Hindu Jagannath Temple was torn down.
“I’m just standing at a construction site. Around me there are dozens of workers putting up corrugated tin and stacks of bricks from a formerly old building in this area of Shakhari Bazaar. There’s no trace of history here anymore and on each side I’m surrounded by new apartment buildings.”
Islam says that without government or private money, preservation work can’t proceed.
“How much money are we talking to do a restoration? For the courtyard we are probably looking at something like 5,000 dollars, but if we tried to do the whole building, it would be 20,000 to 25,000 dollars.”
25 thousand US dollars just to fix up one building. Multiply that by the approximately 90 buildings in Shakhari Bazaar and that’s well over 2 million dollars. For a country for whom the majority live on less than two US Dollars per day, that’s a tall order.
Just on the edge of the old city lies the Dhaka City Corporation building.
From Sirjaul Islam’s 11th floor office, there is a commanding view over the old city. He’s the city’s Chief Town Planner. He says a committee is now deciding the fate of Dhaka’s heritage buildings, including the crumbling buildings inside Shakhari Bazaar.
“Because once we have declared it is heritage, nobody can demolish these buildings and after our proposal, the committee will be deciding whether to preserve or retrofit the buildings. Maybe the government or some organization will finance it. But yet not decided.”
Without heritage funding, conservation efforts cannot proceed and inevitably, Shakhari Bazaar’s modernization will continue unabated.
Tags: dhaka,Heritage,Hindu Street,Shakhari Bazaar
Categories: Editorials, Interviews
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~story and photos by Mikey Leung~
“Greetings from Folk International. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to inform you that as per tradition, Folk International has started its CHRISTMAS SEASON from 1 Oct 2008.
After many delays, interruptions, disagreements and a fence, the train ride between Kolkata and Dhaka will begin running again on 14 April. 
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