Bangabandhu Complex

BRAC University, Department of Architecture, Dhaka

Project idea

The client, Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), has prepared a development proposal for a site of around 17.8 acres of land to be developed as a commercial and recreational center, entitled Bangabandhu Complex (BC). The site includes Hasan Market, the municipal market, Laldighi Hawker’s market, Kudratullah market, the city supermarket and the Sylhet Govt. Pilot High School.

Project description

The neighborhood is a mixed-use region within an urban settlement with many layers of commercial areas. The commercial growth can be traced back to the 1950s. This area is the major commercial area for the citizens of Sylhet. The primary road is connected to various administrative offices, schools and commercial buildings. There is a need of cultural and social spaces in this area.

The city supermarket is located in Bandar Bazar, Sylhet's primary commercial center, alongside the Surma River, and is intended to serve as a public shopping place for the middle-income group. In 1982, the City Corporation was able to construct this building by filling up Lal Dighi, one of Sylhet's main sources of water. Because it is a CBD, the region is of tremendous public importance. Some key public administrative buildings are located near the city super market. Due to a lack of adequate planning and management, the area has failed to attract visitors, resulting in economic loss and the waste of potential urban space.


Sylhet, a city that is always changing, wants to become a sprawling metropolis by improving its capacities and connections with surrounding districts. We, the citizens of this town, are losing communication with one another as the city becomes larger and more vibrant. As new roads and buildings are built, the identities of each community are being put at risk. The pace of progress has accelerated during the last 20 years or so, losing harmony with even the remaining essentials of life.
Commercial and residential areas have been increasing at a higher rate and cultural spaces are being lost. The younger generations have been impacted by the lack of social and cultural stability. Green areas are the most important areas for a city, but they are decreasing due to the rapid urbanization.

This project aims to increase cultural, social spaces and greenery by applying principles of New Contextualism. The elevated plaza is for the city and the citizens, it connects the old memory of Hasan market to the riverside.

In this particular location, sustaining and stacking markets is a significant problem and task, we need to bring the government and local employers together. The government, locals, and employees can all communicate openly to make this achievable. Thus, it is possible to plan and implement a lively community with busy open areas and a bustling public market.

Technical information

Based on the study and analysis the primary design considerations for the project were:
-Add cultural amenities as the neighborhood lacks such places
-Connect the riverside to the city
-Inject more greenery to the neighborhood
-Improving accessibility & walkability
-Increasing legibility
-Creating socializing spaces where the people of the neighborhood can interact with each other
-Designing courtyard bazaars
-Keeping the memory of Hasan Market
-Making the riverside more enjoyable

The market functions were kept on the ground floor to have easy access; the plaza connects the site with the city and the river bank. Cultural blocks are connected to the plaza and people can enjoy the city view from it.