On March 14, conscious citizens of Dhaka took to the streets of Manik Mia Avenue to express their dissent on the government’s decision to put up fencing around the Sangsad Bhavan. Numerous cultural and professional organisations and individual from all walks of life have demonstrated a peaceful protest against the move. Watching the protesting artistes peacefully prove a point through their niche was a treat and a lesson for the passersby audience.
The organisers strongly believes that constructing the 8.5 foot high fencing will destroy the aesthetic value of the Sangsad Bhavan designed by famed American architect Louis I Kahn and will also create a psychological hurdle between the people and the parliament. An assembly of live arts performance, song, pieces of artwork, recital, street painting, drama and mime act were presented by various art groups and individuals including Prachyanat, Tirondaz, Bottola, Aranyak, Theatre Art Unit, Nattyadhara, Podatik, Shonglap, Jahangirnagar Theatre, Shamageet, Chitkar, Kafil Ahmed, Neela, Shadhona, Short Films Society, Pathsala and Institute of Architects Bangladesh.
Live arts performances by individual art performers were more interesting and eye catching and blended well with the theme of the protest. A performer demonstrated his body being entrapped with iron fencing while another performer installed a case of birds to his body.
Renowned artist Hashem Khan said: “Erecting a fence around the parliament building is morally illegal. No example of fencing will be found across the world in a democratic system unless the country’s system is despotic.”
Mubasshar Hussain, the president of the Institute of Architect Bangladesh said: “The parliament building stands as a democratic icon to the nation. The lawns in the east and west and the south plaza must remain open to people as per the master plan of the parliament complex, but the government violated the committee’s plan led by the deputy speaker.”
Public Works Department is implementing the project in which 8.5-foot high iron fencing would be set up on three sides of the complex - South Plaza and the lawns in the east and the west - replacing an existing four-foot high barrier. World famous architect Louis I Kahn designed the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on 200 acres of land in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and it was inaugurated in 1982.