Another heritage site to bite the dust

After the demolition of century-old Neelam Ghar and Jahajbari, another heritage building -- the old Railway Hospital, which was established 125 years ago -- is set to be demolished.

A significant part of the Railway Hospital's west side, now known as Shorkari Karmachari Hospital (Government Staffers Hospital) building, has already been demolished. The rest will crumble soon, as work has been ongoing for around 15 days.

The authorities have gone ahead with the decision despite the High Court's directive in 2018 ordering them not to change, modify or demolish 2,200 British-era heritage buildings in Old Dhaka, which includes the old Railway Hospital.

The two-storey building in Fulbaria remained functional as a 500-bed hospital till March this year. After that, hospital authorities issued a notice to empty all its wards and move them to an adjacent new building from March 19 to March 28. This newspaper has obtained a copy of the eviction notice.

Mamoon Mahbub, assistant secretary of Shorkari Karmachari Hospital, said they will construct a reservoir and green space at the site, as the old building has become fragile.

When asked about the HC directive, he said he was not aware of it.

Taimur Islam, chief executive of conservation organisation Urban Study Group, said this building was constructed as part of the new civil station from Fulbaria to Farmgate to make Dhaka the capital of the Eastern Bengal and Assam province during Bangabhanga (the first partition of Bengal) in 1905.

"The building should be protected for being part of a historic chain of development activities taken during the British period. The authorities have already demolished the western part of the building, but it is still possible to protect it by renovating the demolished part," said Taimur.

He also mentioned that Rajuk, for the first time, prepared a list of 94 heritage buildings and 13 heritage zones in 2009 and the Railway Hospital building was in it. It was also in the 2017 list prepared by Rajuk.

However, the building's name was mysteriously dropped from the list, along with the names of 75 other heritage buildings, in 2020, according to Taimur.

"We are observing that one after another, heritage buildings are being demolished. This is also a clear violation of the High Court's directives," he said.

During a human chain in front of the building protesting its demolition yesterday, Sazzadur Rasheed, associate professor and chairman of the Department of Architecture at Primeasia University, claimed the authorities have long tried to demolish the structure and took the chance when everyone got busy with the recent Bangabazar blaze.

Participating in the human chain, advocate Md Waliul Haque told this correspondent, "These buildings carry our history with them. History will be protected as long as these structures are protected."

"If we can at least protect the part which has not yet been demolished, we will be able to preserve our history and pass it on to the next generations," he added.