Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has urged the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) to remove the Sadarghat Launch Terminal from near the Lalkuthi-Ruplal House immediately to restore the heritage of Dhaka. He made the call while speaking at a discussion after visiting the exhibition of project activities under Dhaka City Neighbourhood Upgrading Project (DCNUP) at Lalkuthi premises on Monday. “Our Dhaka city got its shape on the bank of Buriganga River. Unfortunately, we do not see the river from this historic establishment (Lalkuthi-Ruplal House). Government and private organizations have occupied the small river. I urge the BIWTA to remove Sadarghat Launch Terminal from the Lalkuthi-Ruplal House part.”   READ: Inquiry ordered on Sadarghat launch fire Mentioning that this is the high time to bring back the lost glory of Dhaka, Taposh said, “I was inspired to participate in the mayoral polls to bring back the lost heritage of Dhaka. However, it is a matter of sorrow, after the winning, I found that Lalkuthi-Ruplal House is not under the city corporation. I agree with the demand of the panelists of today’s programme to include the historic establishment in the city corporation. We will recover and conserve it after the handover. We want to bring back the heritage of all the historical establishments of Dhaka.”      World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Mercy Miyang Tembon, historian Muntassir Mamoon, architect  Mubasshar Hussein, engineer Md. Nurul Huda, Regional Director of World Bank South Asia Sustainable Development  John Roome, Bangladesh Institute of Planners president Fazle Reza Sumon and DSCC chief executive officer Farid Ahammad, among others, spoke t the discussion. 

Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will build a modern launch terminal in Chandpur with all facilities. Already a tender has been floated to build the terminal on 2.40 acres of land involving Tk 70 crore with the financial assistance of World Bank, Deputy Director of BIWTA, Chandpur, Kaisarul Islam, told UNB. All modern facilities including river port office, washrooms for passengers, pure drinking water, sitting arrangements, prayer place, and waiting rooms for women and breast feeding corner will be available at the new terminal, he said. Also read: BIWTA to construct another ghat in Zajira to ease Eid travel