14th ISSUE

Dream Train in the City of Oysters

Cox’s Bazar Rail Station has been built as a modern marvel for travelers. The new ‘green field’ of railway alignment has connected Cox’s Bazar, the top tourist destination and a rapidly developing region in Bangladesh. Finally, the long-term dream of tourists has been fulfilled. On November 11, 2023, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 102-kilometre dual gauge single railway line between Cox’s Bazar and Dohazari in Chattogram and the newly built Cox’s Bazar iconic rail station in the shape of oyster shell. The architect of the station, Mohammad Foyez Ullah, principal architect of Volume Zero Limited, took inspiration from the shape of an oyster for its exterior, which symbolises the beach. It is a station with marine atmosphere at first sight. With this, not only has the country’s leading tourist destination become more easily accessible, the entire southeast region is also poised for boosting trade and connectivity. The rail link project, the latest among several such communication-related projects, is part of an elaborate development scheme focused on Cox’s Bazar. Enhanced connectivity will be crucial for transportation of goods to and from Teknaf land port, as well as the growth of local industries including fish, salt, rubber raw materials, forest and agriculture products and dried fruits, according to local business experts. There are nine railway stations on this route, which means the surrounding areas will also see economic transformation. After Cox’s Bazar to Chattogram the stations are followed by Ramu, Islamabad, Dulahajara, Chakaria, Harbang, Lohagara, Satkania and Dohajari. The rail line will be extended to the Myanmar border, and to the planned deep-sea port on Matarbari Island. The extended part will have three stations – Ukhia, Teknaf and Ghumdhum (Bandarban). Cox’s Bazar Station to enhance tourists’ experience Nestled on a 29-acre expanse in Chanderpara, under the Jhilongjha union in Cox’s Bazar Sadar upazila, stands the paradise sighting station, located three km away from the sandy beach, built at a cost of Tk 215 crore. The six-storied building, covering 187,000 square feet area, captivates visitors with its unique exterior. The canopy serves a dual purpose — not only enhancing the station’s aesthetic appeal but also effectively cooling the building, ensuring proper air circulation, and welcoming ample natural light, according to the project engineers. Adding to the visual allure, a variety of coloured lights grace the front of the building, providing an artistic perspective to the station’s entrance. This station is Asia’s first 100 per cent tourist-friendly central air-conditioned multi-storied station. It has all kinds of facilities for tourists. Arrangements have also been made so that tourists can visit Cox’s Bazar in a day and return the same day without hotel accommodation. This railway is perfect Cox’s Bazar as an international tourist hub. It will be helpful to bring foreign tourists. Not only in the winter, tourists will be encouraged to visit Cox’s Bazar throughout the season including monsoon. In the construction of this iconic station, facilities of various modern stations of the world including China, Belgium, England, and Italy have been taken into consideration. A total of 250 engineers and more than 600 people, including 110 foreigners, were working in the entire project. After four years of hard work, the uniquely beautiful railway station building is visible today. On the ground floor, ticket counters, arrival and VIP lounges, ATM booths, Bank and forex service, pharmacy, post office, railway service office, baby care centre, information booth, and luggage lockers. The first floor offers a departure lounge, waiting lounges, display centres, locker room, prayer space, shops, and a cafe. Levels 2 to 5 house a shopping mall and food court, bookshop, five-star overnight stay option with dining, office spaces, restaurants, a multipurpose hall and hotel with recreational space for passengers. The hotel has 39 rooms. The fourth floor is intended to be leased for offices and conferences. Top floor reserved for future use. Travelers arriving at Cox’s Bazar by overnight train can conveniently store their belongings in lockers and explore the beach and other tourist spots during the day before catching a night train back to Chattogram or Dhaka. Tourists can leave their luggage in station lockers while they enjoy their time sightseeing at the beaches and tourist sites. Around 500 tourists will be able to keep their luggage in the station lockers at a time. As a result, tourists would be able to leave Cox’s Bazar without staying at night in hotel. However, they have to pay locker rent for this. The station is equipped with ample amenities, including escalators, lifts, parking area and refresh rooms for men, women, and those with physical disabilities. Accessing any of the three platforms is made easy with a footover bridge connected to escalators, staircases, and a ramp bridge facilitating movement between platforms. The rail station also features separate facilities for women, children, the elderly people. The Cox’s Bazar station has the capacity to transport around 50,000 people each day, as well as facilitate the operation of wagons for transporting fish, dried fish, salt and other items. Work of the project is being completed in two parts with China Railway Engineering Cooperation (CREC) and Toma Construction carrying out the first part from Dohajari to Chakaria and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and Max Infrastructure Limited are doing another part from Chakaria to Cox’s Bazar. Additional Deputy Inspector General of Tourist Police Cox’s Bazar region Apel Mahmud said the arrival of tourists in Cox’s Bazar will increase, thanks to the train service. All kinds of preparations have been made for the service and safety of tourists, he added. Passengers say the journey is enjoyable. A crooked rail line has been built through the green field and forest. Sometimes the hills touch, sometimes the eyes will be drawn to the unique beauty of the green village of Bangladesh. A hundred kilometers of railways has completed to see such a scene. Every station is equipped with relay batteries, generator rooms, sewage and waste management facilities, and energy-saving features such as solar panels. Both meter and broad gauge rail

Kamalapur Railway Station: A Gateway to Journeys in Bangladesh

Kamalapur Railway Station, officially known as Dhaka Central Railway Station, stands as a bustling gateway to the vibrant capital city of Dhaka. Nestled in the heart of the city, this vital transportation hub connects travellers to all major cities in Bangladesh. As the largest and busiest railway station in the country, Kamalapur serves as a crucial link, facilitating journeys both near and far.

Where Nature Teaches: The Story of Aga Khan Academy

In Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area, the Aga Khan Academy immediately catches your eye. Its warm brick walls, softened by greenery and a sparkling water channel, glow in the morning light. The building feels like a historical monument—orderly courtyards, intricate brickwork—yet the lively chatter of students reminds you this is a school—a place where learning blends seamlessly with nature’s rhythms. Bangladesh’s heritage that make it truly remarkable. Here, architecture becomes a canvas, interiors breathe with narrative, and every art installation stands as a tribute to the nation’s soul.     Spanning in 17 acres, the award-winning Aga Khan Academy in Dhaka was developed through a collaboration between SHATOTTO Architecture for Green Living and Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. The design draws inspiration from the region’s ancient Buddhist Mahaviharas, incorporating their architecture and philosophy into the campus. A clay model was used to visualise the design, helping stakeholders understand the campus’s spatial organisation before construction. Covering 74,150 square metres, this is Shatotto’s largest school project to date. The campus provides a green sanctuary within Dhaka’s urban environment. This academy represents a significant investment by the Aga Khan Development Network in Bangladesh’s future. As the fourth institution in a planned network of 18 Aga Khan Academies across Africa, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East, the Dhaka campus connects students to a wider academic and cultural community. Other campuses are located in Mombasa, Hyderabad, and Maputo, forming a global network focused on pluralism, leadership, and excellence.     To support education from nursery to diploma level, Aga Khan Education Services required a permanent campus. This presented a challenge in a dense city like Dhaka. The project is designed to be scalable and sustainable, planned in seven construction phases. Since its first phase launched in September 2022, the academy has offered an integrated environment that connects nature with education, providing a calm setting within Bashundhara’s urban area. The Dhaka campus currently enrolls 750 students, with plans for expansion to 1,200. The masterplan includes residential facilities designed to accommodate students and staff from across Bangladesh and other countries. This lays the foundation for a diverse and inclusive learning environment upon full implementation.     The vision for this project was led by Architect Rafiq Azam of Shatotto Architecture for Green Living, who incorporated Bangladesh’s heritage into the design. He conceptualized it as an “archaeological site, like our ancient monasteries.” Co-lead Architect Peter Clegg of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios contributed global standards and technical precision. A central amphitheatre serves as a space for performances and gatherings. The adjacent Maidan, a large open playground, accommodates student activities, serving recreational and social functions. Brick buildings surround these shared areas on a planted base, offering unobstructed views of the Maidan from all directions. The Maidan functions as the campus’s central point, reflecting the spirit of ancient Buddhist Mahaviharas. These elements collectively support an environment where the physical space contributes to the educational process. “The school itself teaches,” says Rafiq Azam, lead architect of the Aga Khan Academy. “Students learn from books inside the classroom, but when they step outside, they begin to notice surroundings on their own — how water flows, how flowers bloom, how the sun moves across the sky, and how the breeze blows from a certain direction.” He adds, “This kind of learning happens naturally, guided by the environment rather than just by the teacher. The process encourages students to learn independently, beyond what is taught in the classroom.” Rafiq Azam emphasised the local context influencing the design, noting the significance of greenery, water, and rain in Bangladesh’s fertile landscape. This sensitivity is integrated into the campus layout, where natural elements are part of daily student life.     The academy’s design heavily features brick, chosen for both its practical and aesthetic qualities, consistent with Bangladesh’s architectural history. Each brick is carefully positioned. According to Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, brick was selected to revive local craftsmanship and to contrast with the render and concrete common in surrounding new buildings. The construction method involves deeply embedded mortar between brick pairs, a technique seen in historical sites, ensuring longevity and a timeless appearance. This strategic use of locally sourced brick, combined with Bangladeshi brick patterning, creates a cohesive campus. It establishes a hierarchy of spaces through its brickwork. Facade perforations allow daylight into interior corridors, using traditional techniques. Recessed windows, screens, and protruding brick columns provide shading for classrooms and create covered balconies and walkways. Classrooms are oriented to minimise solar gain in summer, with external walkways and adjacent buildings providing passive solar shading from the morning sun throughout the year. This ensures adequate daylight and outdoor views. Architects designed these spaces for passive heating and shading year-round to minimise energy consumption. This climate responsiveness was achieved through extensive sun pattern analysis and wind flow direction studies, optimising light and ventilation. The academy’s character reflects many original Buddhist universities in Bangladesh. It is defined by the massing and materiality of brick buildings located on a sculpted and planted landscape base surrounding the central Maidan.     Alongside the main field, the complex includes smaller connected areas featuring concrete canopies for shelter, along with brick benches and planters. These peripheral spaces serve as transitions between the central Maidan and more intimate interior areas. Spaces are tailored for different age groups; for example, the senior courtyard offers shaded zones under planted trees for focused group activities. The assembly court is simple, with four ‘Dhaak trees,’ which inspired Dhaka’s name. The primary central courtyard accommodates larger gatherings and includes an amphitheatre built around a sand pit. This pit is designed to collect rainwater during heavy rainfall, holding up to 170 mm of water for approximately 10 to 30 minutes. The campus masterplan organises spaces into four zones—Intellectual, Moral, Physical, and Spiritual—supporting a holistic educational philosophy. Each block is designed for a specific function. The Academic Block, a central hub, contains administrative workstations, learning centers, group study areas, and a lecture hall, along with a terrace. Its white-walled classrooms vary in