The BNP has alleged that by restoring architect Louis I Kahn’s original design, the Awami League government, in fact, wants to restore the shape of Pakistan’s national flag in the parliament complex.
Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government move shows the ruling party’s ‘love for the Pakistani flag’ though his party (BNP) is often criticised by the Awami League for ‘siding with the pro-Pakistanis.
“Whose design do you want to reinstate? Do you want to tear down other establishments to save the Pakistani flag? You will have to answer these questions to the people,” he said at a discussion in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Kahn designed the structure in the early 1960s, when the regime of Pakistan’s first military ruler, General Ayub Khan, decided that Dhaka would be the Second Capital of what was then the East Pakistan.
Following Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971, the parliament building was transformed into the country’s Jatiya Sangsad.
Kahn’s design is interpreted by many that it bore the resemblance of Pakistan flag – the positioning of Crescent Lake and the main parliament complex resemble to the crescent moon and five-rayed star at the centre of the Pakistani national flag.
However, the design has been breached by many structures which were not included in the original design including that of the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Restoring the original design means all those structures would be removed from the precinct of the parliament complex.
Mirza Fakhrul said, “When Ayub Khan, a big dictator, planned to build a second capital for Pakistan in Dhaka, he decided to rename the Agricultural Farm area to Ayub Nagar and set up the parliament building, secretariat and other buildings for the central government here.”
“World famous Louis I Kahn was selected to make the design, and he themed his design on Pakistan flag,” he added.
He also said, “If the government really wants to restore the original design then they should relocate the Ganabhaban, Bangabandhu International Conference Centre and the road island dividing the two lanes of Manik Mia Avenue because those are not in Kahn’s plan.”
Speaking at the discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), BNP Standing Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain warned the government of ‘dire consequences’ if it relocates Zia’s grave.
The BNP organised the discussion to mark ‘Fall of Autocracy and Freedom of Democracy Day’.
Military dictator HM Ershad stepped down on Dec 6, 1990 following a mass movement.
Source: Bd news24
