Help build eco-friendly infrastructures, PM to architects

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday sought cooperation from the country's architects in building infrastructures using local resources keeping in mind the environment and land resource constraint.

"I seek your cooperation in building infrastructures suitable for the country using the local resources," she said.

The prime minister said this while inaugurating the newly constructed building of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) in the city's Agargaon area.

Sheikh Hasina also urged new architects to come forward with new thinking and ideas of architectural designs.

Terming the country’s children very talented, she urged local architects to work as consultants to design establishments, carry out river managements and other works saying Bangladesh does not want to depend on foreign consultants.

The prime minister referred to a World Bank project placed before her recently involving Tk 5,000 crore and said she had rejected the proposal as it had provisions to spend huge money for foreign consultants and constructing roads.

Terming architecture as the symbol of civilisation, she reiterated her stance not to preserve all British colonial structures, rather preserve some of them as symbols.

"We've some traditions...we were under colonialism for 200 years, that's correct, but I don't think that we've to preserve all the red buildings (constructed during the British era), we can preserve one or two as symbols," she added.

The prime minister said Bangladesh has earned its Independence, and the country's architects should design new structures with their independent mind.

"These structures should be built in a way so that people after 200 years could feel proud of the structures," she said.

Held with IAB general secretary Qazi M Arif in the chair, the inaugural function was addressed, among others by Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Science and Technology Minister

Yeafesh Osman, President of Architects Regional Council Asia Sathirut Nui Tandanand, IAB President Dr Abu Sayeed M Ahmed and Convener of IAB Center inauguration Kazi Golam Nasir.

Mentioning the country's land resource constraint, she said, "Whenever we go for any work, we have to keep in mind about our country land resource constraint ...we need to save the land," she added.

Sheikh Hasina stressed the importance of formulating a master plan before going for any major development activity.

The prime minister also stressed the need for keeping options of lake, water reservoir, playground and wide entrance and exit in urbanisation process as well as keeping water retention body and drainage system to prevent water logging.

Pointing out her government's initiatives to set up 100 economic zones in the country, she said measures will have to be taken to keep all facilities and options of waste management and water bodies there.

Hasina expressed concerned that no waste management system is available in very new and modern big hospitals established in recent past in the country.

She directed all concerned to ensure scientific system of waste management.

Suggesting that development needs to have the start from the village level, the prime minister urged the architects to maintain trend of development of small towns alongside big cities, design establishment and buildings considering suitability with place and geographical area.

Earlier, a multimedia presentation was screened showcasing contributions of the architects in national developments.