Rezaul Karim Reza: The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has preliminarily finalized a site in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar for the construction of a new official residence for the Prime Minister. The new residence will be built adjacent to Ganabhaban. The Department of Architecture has already started work on preparing the design. The Public Works Department plans to begin construction after obtaining final approval from the new government once it assumes office.
The construction of the new residence is expected to take approximately two to three years. Until then, the state guest house Jamuna or the Speaker’s residence adjacent to the Parliament House complex has been designated as the Prime Minister’s temporary residence, depending on the preference of the incoming Prime Minister. If necessary, the Deputy Speaker’s adjacent residence may also be included.
Following the national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, the country will get a new Prime Minister. Previously, Ganabhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar had been used as the Prime Minister’s residence. However, after the July uprising, Ganabhaban was left in ruins. Subsequently, the interim government decided to preserve it as the “July Memorial Museum.” The work on establishing the museum is currently nearing completion.
Questions Over the Parliament Complex Master Plan
Questions have arisen as to whether the construction of the new Prime Minister’s residence will disrupt the original master plan of the Parliament House complex. However, responsible officials of the Department of Architecture have declined to comment officially on the matter.
Sources said that in 1962, American architect Louis I. Kahn was allocated 208 acres of land in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar to develop a planned area including the Parliament House. He finalized the design in 1973, although he passed away before the Parliament building was constructed. Over time, various structures have been built in the surrounding area, often disregarding the original master plan of the Parliament complex.
According to Louis I. Kahn’s design, the Parliament House was intended to be surrounded by residences for public representatives and government officials, along with hospitals, lakes, green spaces, and wide roads. However, it remains unclear what specific purpose was designated in his plan for the site now selected for the new Prime Minister’s residence.
Final Site Selected Beside the Ministry of Defence
A committee headed by the Secretary of the Public Works Ministry has been formed to oversee the construction of the Prime Minister’s residence. The committee includes representatives from the Public Works Department, the Department of Architecture, professional technical organizations, as well as professors and experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
During committee meetings, three locations were discussed for the permanent Prime Minister’s residence. Among them, the site that received the most support is an approximately 18-acre plot on the northwestern side of Ganabhaban, adjacent to the Ministry of Defence offices. A portion of this land currently houses old residential quarters for government employees. Ultimately, this site was finalized.
Chief Architect of the Department of Architecture, Asifur Rahman Bhuiyan, said that design work for the Prime Minister’s residence has already begun. He noted that the designs are being prepared in advance so that construction can commence promptly once the new government takes office. He added that, similar to the previous Ganabhaban, the design will cover a large area and include all necessary facilities required for a Prime Minister. The main building will be three stories high.
Additional Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, Kazi Firoz Hasan, said that since the building will not be high-rise, construction can be completed within two to two and a half years.
Background of Ganabhaban
After independence, Ganabhaban was used as a state guest house. In 1996, when Sheikh Hasina became Prime Minister, she began residing there. In 2001, Ganabhaban was allocated to her at a symbolic cost of one taka, but the allocation was revoked after the Awami League left power. Later, when Khaleda Zia became Prime Minister, she did not reside at Ganabhaban. In 2009, after the Awami League returned to power, Sheikh Hasina moved back into Ganabhaban and lived there until she left the country on August 5.
On that day, agitated crowds attacked, looted, and vandalized Ganabhaban. Subsequently, the interim government decided to transform it into the “July Memorial Museum.”
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