12th ISSUE

MODEL MOSQUES A Unique Gift to Society Message of peace, culture of harmony to be promoted in society

Mosque is not just a place of worship for Muslims; it’s the common most place of meeting and congregation of the followers of the religion of peace, Islam. It’s not only a holy place; it helps spread the message of love, friendship and brotherhood. Mosque is not merely a place that involves spirituality but also deals with worldly affairs; It’s more than that.

Elevated Expressway A new milestone in communications in Dhaka

The First Dhaka Elevated Expressway (FDEE) is called a ‘new milestone’ in communications and the project is being implemented under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to alleviate traffic congestion in and around the capital. It has already been visible after inauguration of a portion of total of 46.73-kilometre-length with ramps, including a main elevated section spanning 19.73 km in the city. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 11.5 km part of it between Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Farmgate section, on September 2 with the key objective to shorten the lead time for exports and imports activities. Now people can travel the Airport-Farmgate site in 10 minutes thanks to the FDEE inauguration in the densely populated city. It often takes two hours to travel the 11.5 km due to severe traffic congestion. According to the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway Company Ltd, the total of 46.73-km-long elevated expressway is covering Airport, Kawla, Kuril, Banani, Mohakhali, Tejgaon, Magbazar, Kamalapur, Sayedabad, Jatrabari to Kutubkhali on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. The entire expressway is expected to be opened for vehicles from Tejgaon to KutubKhali in June 2024. The FDEE project involves construction of a four-lane main carriageway and one elevated link road, comprising: four-lane dual main carriageway of a total length of 19.73 kilometers. It has a four-lane dual link-road carriageway of a total length of 3.1 kilometers. 32 on-off ramps including 16 on-ramps and 16 off-ramps (one-lane carriageway of 5.5 meter width) of a total length of 23.9 kilometers with 8 toll plazas and 43 toll collection booths. Besides the main four-lane dual carriageway and two suspended termini at its ends, it has five interchanges, two elevated links. The approximate total length of the main carriageway Expressway is about 46.73 km including 19.73 km main flyover and 31 km ramps and elevated links. Dhaka-Ashulia, Dhaka-Narayanganj and Dhaka-Chittagong expressways will also be connected with this elevated expressway in future. The project is one of the largest infrastructure projects taken up by the incumbent government spending a total of Tk 13,858 crore to ease traffic congestion. Of them, the cost of Airport-Farmgate section was Tk 8,940 crore. However, the FDEE project is being implemented under the PPP process between the government of Bangladesh, represented by the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA), and the Italian-Thai Development Company Limited (ITD Group), represented by the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway (FDEE) Co. Ltd. According to the authority, around 80,000 vehicles can run on the FDEE a day. Chinese firm China Shandong International Economic and Technical Corporation, one of the three private partners of the PPP project, will operate the control centre. The FDEE is offlimits to three-wheelers and motorcycles. Other vehicles run on the structure at a maximum speed of 60km per hour in expressway and 40km per hour in ramps at the beginning. BRTC bus services commenced on the Expressway. The non-stop service, which began initially, runs with eight double-decker buses from Farmgate to the Airport. Road Transport and Highways authority said cars, SUVs, microbuses with fewer than 16 seats, and trucks with a capacity of less than three tonnes will pay Tk 80 for using the expressway. Trucks with six wheels will pay Tk 320, those with more than six wheels Tk 400, and buses with 16 or more seats Tk 160.  Payment is being processed through e-ticketing. Local construction industries are thriving At least 10 local companies are making and supplying materials, such as cement, steel, stone and paint, for constructing the country’s first elevated expressway. Local products in place of imported alternatives are also being used in this mega project. This is not only saving foreign currency but also building the capacity of the local companies. A major portion of the Tk 8,940 crore project is being constructed using local materials. Of the 10 local contributors, six are cement companies while two are steel makers and the others make paint and PVC products. The cement makers are: Shah Cement, Crown Cement, Bashundhara Industrial Complex, Heidelberg Cement, Seven Rings Cement and Premier Cement. The BSRM and GPH Ispat are providing steel for the project while two concerns of RFL Group — RFL Pipe and Fittings, and Rainbow Paints — are supplying necessary pipes and road marking materials. RN Paul, managing director of RFL Group, said they are providing waste and rainwater pipes and fittings for the drainage system of the elevated expressway as well as road marking materials. Mr Paul explained that if local companies do not provide the required construction materials, then they would have to be imported at the cost of huge sums of foreign currency. “So, local companies benefited and also the process helped save foreign currency through such cooperation,” he said. Till September 2023, a total of 66,000 tonnes of steel has been used in the elevated expressway project, with BSRM contributing a majority 52,000 tonnes (80%). Tapan Sengupta, deputy managing director of BSRM, acknowledged that involvement in this type of large project helps local construction material companies grow their capacity and achieve global standards. Sheikh Masadul Alam Masud, founder chairman of the Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association, said the local steelmaking capacity has nearly doubled to about 9 million tonnes over the past decade. Local cement manufacturers have increased their production capacity to 6 million tonnes per annum while it was 2 million tonnes annually just 10 years ago. Back to history In January 2011, the certificate authority (CA) was signed between Bangladesh government, represented by Bridges Division, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, acted through Bangladesh Bridge Authority (together the “grantor”), and First Dhaka Elevated Expressway (FDEE) company limited (the “concessionaire”). The ITD, the largest construction company in Thailand, established first Dhaka Elevated Expressway Company Limited (“FDEE”) as a 100%-owned special purpose vehicle, registered in Bangladesh, to accede ITD as the concessionaire in the concession agreement for implementation of the project. The BBA signed deal with Italian-Thai Development Public Company to build the FDEE at a cost of Tk 8,703 crore in January 2011. The agreement was revised and inked again in

A palace on the bank of Buriganga

An integral part of Dhaka’s image in terms of historical architecture that still remains and has been renovated and preserved is the Ahsan Manzil. And like many of common folks who grew up in Dhaka, they have always wondered, at least once in their lives, the reasons behind why this iconic landmark is painted pink. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Ahsan Manzil’s history is even more colourful. This iconic building was built on a property that has a rich history dating back to the Mughal era at the southern part of Dhaka. During the Mughal Empire, Sheikh Enayet Ullah, Zamindar of the Jalalpur Porgona (Faridpur-Barishal), who was the original owner of the land, built a palace called Rong Mahal (which loosely translates as ‘Colourful Palace’) in 1720 for his amusement, a typical practice amongst wealthy elites at the time. He also had a garden house and a cemetery on this site. After he passed away, his son Sheikh Moti Ullah sold the property to the French traders in Bengal at the time. The new owners soon established a trading house next to the palace. Later, after being defeated in the Palashy War by the British East India Company in 1757, they had to leave their possessions behind. After changing hands a number of times, the property was purchased by Khwaja Alimullah of Begambazar in 1830, who was a prominent merchant and an important figure of Dhaka’s Muslim community at the time. Alimullah renovated the property, turning the trading house into a residence. He also built a mosque and some other important structures in this area. After his death in 1854, his son Khwaja Abdul Ghani inherited the property and named it Ahsan Manzil after his son Khwaja Ahsanullah. He continued renovations; the old building was renamed Ondor Mohol (ladies quarters) and the new building was called Rangmahal (pleasure palace) and was later renamed Ahsan Manzil. Khwaja Abdul Ghani was one of the most influential Nawabs (Zamindar) of Dhaka. Known for his generosity and patronage of arts and culture, he expanded his estate by acquiring more lands around Ahsan Manzil and also played an important role in improving the infrastructure, education, healthcare, trade, and social welfare of Dhaka. In 1859, he built a new building on Ahsan Manzil’s property that resembled European architecture because of its domes and pillars. The Nawab named it Rangmahal and painted it with different colours every year according to his mood. On 7 April 1888, Ahsan Manzil suffered severe damage from a tornado that impacted most of its buildings, except for Rangmahal and it was temporarily abandoned. Khwaja Abdul Ghani then decided to rebuild Ahsan Manzil with more vigour and decorations than previous ones. He hired Martin & Co., a British construction and engineering f irm, who designed Ahsan Manzil with an Indo-Saracenic style, blended with Islamic and European elements. In 1872, the reconstruction work continued under Khwaja Abdul Ghani’s supervision, what was previously the French trading house was rebuilt as a two-storey building similar to the Rangmahal. A wooden bridge connected the first floors of the two buildings. After he died in 1896 at the age of 87 years, his son Khwaja Ahsanullah continued his father’s legacy by taking care of the palace. He added new features like electric lights, gas lamps, and water pumps as part of modernization. The palace was repaired again following the 1897 Assam earthquake. The Nawab family played crucial roles in the modernisation of the Dhaka city, particularly in the development of educational systems, healthcare, and urban infrastructure, including the f iltered water supply system that served the city population. They occupied important positions as Commissioner of Dhaka Municipality. Today, within the hyper-congested and cacophonous urban growth of Old Dhaka, it is difficult to imagine how this majestic edifice once dominated the riverfront skyline of Dhaka. The landmark is a unique fusion of architectural styles, reflecting the rich cultural influences that shaped Bengal it over the centuries. The main palace building showcases a harmonious blend of Mughal and European architectural styles. The Mughal influence is evident in the structure’s domes, arches, and intricate decorative motifs. The ornate design of the palace’s entrance and interior chambers reflects the opulence that was characteristic of the Mughal era. European influences, on the other hand, are seen in the high ceilings, broad staircases, and expansive verandas. The palace’s central ballroom, adorned with crystal chandeliers and European-style furniture and tableware, exudes an air of sophistication that was imported from Europe during the late 19th century. The building faces the Buriganga River and Buckland Dam. On the riverside is a stairway leading up to the 1st floor. A fountain previously sat at the foot of the stairs but was not rebuilt. Along the north and south sides of the building are verandas with open terraces. Ahsan Manzil is ostentatiously European in its architectural expression, even though the building’s recessed verandahs may recall the Mughal treatment of buildings in a tropical climate. Its triple-arched portal, Greco-Roman column capitals, pilasters, and arched windows—all suggest that it is mostly a European-style building, meshed with some decorative Indian motifs. The palace’s soaring dome appears to be more about impressing the viewer on the exterior, rather than within the interior. The dome is at the centre of the palace and is complex in its design. The room at its base is square with brickwork placed around the corners to make it circular. Squinches were added to the roof corners to give the room an octagonal shape and slant gradually to give the dome the appearance of a lotus bud. The dome’s peak is 27.13 metres (89.0 ft) tall. The palace is divided into the eastern side, the Rangmahal, and the western side, the Andarmahal. The Rangmahal features the dome, a drawing room, a card room, a library, a state room, and two guest rooms. The Andarmahal has a ballroom, a storeroom, an assembly room, a chest room, a dining hall, a music room, and a few residential rooms. Both the drawing room and