DHAKA: Finally, the tombs of late President Ziaur Rahman and others are being removed from the periphery of Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Bhavan in city.

The tomb complexes were built during the rule of Ziaur Rahman and HM Ershad ignoring the original design of famous French architect Louis Kahn.

During Ershad regime, the tomb complex of Zia was built on the south of JS building on 74 acres of Chandrima Uddyan. Again during the regime of both Zia and Ershad, at least seven persons were buried on five bighas of land on the north-eastern side of Sangsad Bhaban, located on the east of Manik Mia Avenue.

The whole burial complex is known as ‘National Graveyard’.

Those included litterateur and journalist Abul Mansur Ahmed, who died in 1979, politician Mashiur Rahman Jadu Mia, died in 1979, politician Tamijuddin Khan, died in 1980, politician Khan A Sabur, died in 1982 and late Prime Minister Ataur Rahman Khan, died in 1991. Tomb complexes were built on each burial place.

Besides, more two tombs are seen without any signboards, one of which is identified as of late Prime Minister Shah Aziz.

Most of these persons, including Shah Aziz, have allegations of controversial role during the nation’s war of independence.

In the last ECNEC meeting of current week, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seriously put her insistence to remove these tomb complexes that alerted the public works ministry and other concerned departments.

However, the next locations of these complexes are yet to be decided. After visiting these areas, it was found that both these tomb complexes are den of anti-social elements, including drug addicts and dating resorts of the youths, particularly in the park called Chandrima Uddyan.

The situation of Zia’s tomb complex becomes worse in the night than the daytime.

The construction of the JS building, which started in 1961 and completed in 1982, where president Zia was buried absolutely on political decision.

Then, it was called Chandrima Udyan. It was named so as the then President Ershad titled it keeping similarity of shape with the crescent lake of JS building.

Later on, when Khaleda Zia had become Prime Minister in 1991, she named it Zia Udyan after the former president’s name but when Awami League came to power, it was again renamed Chandrima Udyan.

BNP when returned to power it was renamed again as Zia Udyan that was again reversed to Chandrima Udyan now.

The construction of Zia complex was done by BNP in 2002 attaching many more installations including hanging bridge on the crescent lake, mosque, canteen and memorial hall by public works ministry at a cost Taka 35 crore.

Regarding the shifting of Zia’s tomb complex, the Superintending Engineer (SE) of PWD circle-3 (EM) of JS Mohammad Abul Hashem told banglanews that Zia’s tomb complex was built reversing the original design of Louis Kahn.

The whole matter was political decision. The powerful people did not follow any rule and regulations, he added.

He said that after showing the original design of Louis Kahn, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the last ECNEC meeting wanted to know that how it happened ignoring the original plan.

“However, when decision will come from the government we will start shifting the tombs complexes,” Abul Hashem added.

BDST: 1718 HRS, JULY 09, 2015
Edited by Shahjahan/RS/RR