DHAKA, Oct 29, 2018 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today witnessed the original design of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban which was brought in Bangladesh from the USA in 2016.
The prime minister witnessed the design, prepared by the famous American architect Louis I Kahn, at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here this evening.
She saw the design taking a keen interest and gave various directives to the authorities concerned to maintain heritage and dignity of the historic building.
Chief Architect of the Department of Architecture Kazi Golam Nasir briefed the premier about different aspects of the design.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Housing and Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, Chief Whip ASM Feroze, Whip Iqbalur Rahim, Prime Minister’s Office Secretary Sajjadul Hassan, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Housing and Public Works Secretary Md Shahid Ullah Khandakar were present on the occasion.
A decision was taken in the 24th meeting of the Parliament Secretariat Commission held on June 2 in 2013 that the opinions of the experts will have to be taken keeping consistency with the original design of Louis I Kahn for bringing any change, addition or construction in the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Accordingly, it was informed at the 25th meeting of the Parliament Secretariat Commission held on June 1 in 2018 that the original design of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban is yet to be collected from Kahn’s consulting firm.
Besides, a decision was taken at the meeting to preserve original drawing including the design of the JS Bhaban and display it’s digital version and hardcopy at a specific place and give them on parliament website after discussion with the Department of Architecture.
In the light of the 25th meeting of the Parliament Secretariat Commission held on June 1 in 2018, the Department of Architecture sent an email having a checklist to Curator of Pennsylvania University William Whitaker.
Later, a five-member delegation visited the USA from June 6-26 in 2016 to collect the designs. The team examined every design and handed over a demand on some more drawings and documents of the design. As per the understanding signed by two sides, Bangladesh received the parliament building’s original design from the University of Pennsylvania on December 1 in 2016.
Four sets having a total of 853 designs — 738 designs of the parliament building and 115 designs of the National Secretariat — and two sets (41 cardboard boxes) with 900 photographs reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport here on that day.
The Parliament Secretariat received the designs the dame day, while the flash drive of the soft copy with the design and photographs reached Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat on July 4 in 2017.