The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has occupied a portion of a road at Gulistan intersection in the capital to allegedly extend the controversial Golap Shah Mazar (shrine) building.
Although DSCC authorities are monitoring the extension work, they are yet to make public the exact historical background of the two graves in the building. Construction is going on occupying a portion of Gulistan road.
Workers employed on the site told the Dhaka Tribune they were working according to the directive of the city corporation. A foundation stone was also laid on the north of the shrine building on December 19 last year.
“The foundation stone of construction and repair of Hazrat Golap Shah (R) Mazar was laid jointly by Md Ansar Ali Khan, DSCC chief executive officer, also president of the shrine and the mosque committee, and the DSCC administrator,” it read.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Ansar Ali Khan said extension to the shrine would not be built on the road.
“Besides, the shrine’s own fund is being used for the construction. The city corporation is not funding it,” he added.
He, however, refused to talk when asked about the historical information on the shrine.
Muntasir Mamun, a Professor of History at the University of Dhaka, told the Dhaka Tribune that erecting any structure to extend the shrine was unacceptable and illegal because its background was questionable.
“I’ve discussed about the shrine in my book Dhaka Samagra 3. Earlier, the city corporation relocated a mosque, which was part of the shrine, to Osmani Udyan from Gulistan road. But I don’t understand why they did not shift the shrine from its current location,” said the professor.
In a story titled “Shob mazar mazar noy (every shrine is not a shrine)” in Dhaka Samagra 3, Muntasir wrote: “Golap Shah Mazar is located at Gulistan intersection and it was once known as Neemtala Mazar because there was a big neem tree there.”
The history professor mentioned that people sometimes would call it Sikandar Shah Mazar because they were uncertain about its authentic background.
“An individual named Golap Shah would take care of the shrine. He was buried there following his death and from then on, it began being referred to as Golap Shah Mazar,” wrote Muntasir.
In a directive issued on February 26, 2012, the High Court asked the DSCC to take steps against encroachment on the footpaths from the capital’s Zero Point to Sadarghat within 48 hours. No directive, however, was issued concerning Golap Shah Mazar.
Commuters and pedestrians in the area told the Dhaka Tribune that it often creates a tailback at Gulistan intersection when murids (followers) gather near the shrine in large numbers.
“Vehicles often move at a snail’s pace in the area because of traffic jam. The main reason behind this is that the intersection is a very narrow one and the shrine has occupied a portion of that tiny space,” Alauddin Bhuiyan, a resident of Bangshal, said.
“Now that it is being extended further, there will be intolerable traffic jam in the area,” he added.
Professor Nazrul Islam, chairman of the Centre for Urban Studies, told the Dhaka Tribune it was unacceptable to extend the shrine occupying a busy road.
“Smooth traffic movement should be prioritised above all else. But as the shrine culture is commonplace in our country, a minimal space may be allocated for the Golap Shah Mazar.”
Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba) chairman Abu Naser Khan also opposed the extension of Golap Shah Mazar, saying the DSCC should relocate the shrine elsewhere like the mosque.