REMINISCENCE OF OLD DHAKA’S HERITAGE

Project idea

This four-hundred-year-old capital city has a remarkable architectural heritage that is significant not only locally but also nationally and regionally. However, irrational urbanization and a lack of awareness of such a critical issue are eroding Old Dhaka`s architectural heritage. Under such circumstances, the future tourism of old Dhaka is necessary to reconsider how we can conserve our heritages in future and present them internationally without compromising the economic values which is also essential for its people. Heritage tourism can play here an important role, creating awareness in local and international platforms and generating revenues simultaneously.

Project description

In the 7th century, Dhaka was ruled by the Buddhist kingdoms of the Kamarupa and Pala dynasties, but in the 9th century it belonged to the Hindu kingdom of the Sen dynasty. During the Bengal Sultanate, Delhi Sultanate, Mughal and British Empires, Dhaka was the administrative and political center of Bengal.

Under the rule of the Mughal Empire in 1608, Dhaka was declared the capital of Suba Bangla. Islamic Khan, the first Subedar in Bangla, named the city "Jahangirabad" after the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. This 400-year-old capital has important architectural heritage not only locally, but also nationally and locally.

However, irrational urbanization and lack of awareness of such serious issues are eroding the architectural heritage of Old Dhaka. As a result, many of Dhaka's historic buildings have been demolished and the damage continues unabated. Great pressures from overpopulation, industrialization and unplanned growth of traditional business centers have degraded transportation systems, pollution, biodiversity and cultural integrity. The impact of globalization and infiltration of foreign culture has resulted in changes in the traditional lifestyle of the people living here generation to generation. Sometimes the com-putative society has created an urge to economic growth that made us forget the intangible values of our invaluable cultural heritage.

Under such circumstances, future tourism in old Dhaka will preserve our heritage in the future and make it internationally without jeopardizing the economic value that is also essential to their people. Needed to rethink what can be presented. Creating a harmony between heritage and urbanization requires the use of available resources, techniques, knowledge and ideas. Heritage tourism can play an important role here, generating revenue while raising awareness on local and international platforms. Old Dhaka is unique due to its unique traditions, culture and lifestyle. Over time and the invasion of modern culture, Old Dhaka is gradually losing its original culture. There were times when her "education" wasn't a big deal for her, but her focus was on business, making money, and celebrating every opportunity with her most royal talent.

However, the new generation is constantly embracing and absorbing all modern technology, culture and education to build a better lifestyle that goes beyond traditional lifestyles. Here we are focusing on sightseeing courses. Trails have an open end that relies on tradition, culture and lifestyle. Goli (narrow streets) have a huge number of hall areas like nerves. This path facilitates parking, rest areas, public toilets, etc. for both tourists and locals, including historical information, audiovisual experiences, and participation in traditional festivals. The design addresses existing issues such as traffic jams. Lack of parking lots, lack of plazas, lack of pedestrian opportunities, etc.

Technical information

As a design force, we considered detailed site analysis including issues such as intrusion, traffic congestion, pollution, and demolition of historic buildings. The project is divided into 5 different zones (A, B, C, D, E) And finally, these five zones are connected to a loop that forms one zone. Our zoning has tourist destinations considered on our site. Tanti Bazar, Shakhari Bazar, Tara Mosque, Armenian Church, St. Thomas Church, Pogos Labratory School & College, Bahadur Shah Park, JNU Administration, Ahsan Manzil, Brammo Shomaj, Nawab Bari Gate, Kabi Nazrul College, Bahadur Shah Water Tank, Goltalab, Armanitola Goverment High School and Bulbul Lalitakala Academy.

We not only solve programmatic side only, but also the policy making decision. For example, the zone B, where we have two narrow heritage road (Shakhari bazar, Tanti bazar). In here we have to make some policy like “Demolished and abandoned building space will be used as community pocket space for tourist as well as local people. And there will be some secondary route for the community in festival times. Additionally, there will be some policies that limit vehicular access to the road by different time schedules and only allow loading and unloading in commercial areas at specific times in order to reduce unnecessary traffic. These measures are taken to encourage the public to become more ingrained with the old Dhaka. With the support of the local population's involvement, improvements to the road, drainage system, waste management system, and awareness for conserving the legacy have been taken care of. The historical walk also has an impact on the local micro-economy by promoting local businesses, traditional foods, and antique and handicraft stores.