Old Dhaka is a historically important part of the capital developed over centuries through cultural traditions, social interactions, and economic activities. The uniqueness of Old Dhaka evokes emotion through its classical buildings and rich cultural practices, making it an essential part of the city's identity.
To explore old parts of the capital, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka held a four-day workshop program in partnership with Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Institut Francais, and the World Bank.
The workshops concluded on Tuesday with a discussion session focusing on the economy, geography, and heritage of Old Dhaka.
Experts, policymakers, and urban planners gathered to reflect on insights from three days of workshops, aiming to develop a sustainable roadmap for preserving the city’s historic core while addressing modern challenges at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka in Dhanmondi.
Tahajibul Hossain, Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) presented “Heritage: Building and Living” at the discussion.
He said: “A significant challenge in Old Dhaka is the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework for heritage protection.
“Multiple government agencies, including the Department of Archaeology, RAJUK, and DSCC, have overlapping responsibilities but lack coordination,” said Tahajibul.
He added: “Many heritage buildings remain unlisted due to ownership disputes, particularly those abandoned after the 1947 Partition and the 1971 Liberation War.”
Tahajibul gave an example of Kyoto, Japan's conservation efforts. Which is a public-private partnership to preserve history and architecture.
His presentation provided the road map for preserving the old part of capital through Public Awareness, Heritage Valuation, Heritage-Driven Economic Revitalization, and some other efforts.
To improve the quality of public spaces in Old Dhaka, experts stressed considering the river as a key factor for the quality of life and open spaces. As well, experts suggested encouraging private owners to build roof gardens and creating a pilot project of available space.
As Dhaka’s economy is deeply connected with the river, experts suggested considering pollution and water management as key entry points for solving the economic issue. Experts also suggested promoting economic activities connected to heritage trails.
Along with the experts, the acting operations manager at the World Bank, Syud Amer Ahmed, DSCC Administrator Shahjahan Mia, and the ambassador of France to Bangladesh, HE Marie Masdupuy, were present at the discussion.