The work on building the Sonarbangla Sangskritik Boloy (cultural belt), surrounded by the Suhrawardy Udyan, University of Dhaka, Ramna Park, Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy and Matsya Bhaban, is currently going on at a snail’s pace.
After 22 years of the renovation process, the government has drawn up a plan to give an architectural makeover to Suhrawardy Udyan and freeze the memories of Bangabandhu's March - 7 speech and the Pakistani army's surrender in 1971 on the historic ground.
The new design and facelift will connect Suhrawardy Udyan with Shishu Park and add facilities like walkways, food stalls, and underground parking space to make the area more accessible and visitor-friendly.
Now the work is underway, older rides have also been removed; the theme park will be renovated here. Now the construction of underground parking and mosque is also going on.
The sculpture of liberation speech is being shaped by raising the index finger at the place where Bangabandhu made the liberation war announcement while standing on the ground.
The sculpture will be about 26 feet high, including the main altar to be made of bronze. The height of the original sculpture of Bangabandhu will be 19 feet 6 inches.
In addition, there will also be another bronze sculpture, on December 16, 1971, on the exact spot where the defeated forces Pakistani surrendered. A total of 11 people, including Pakistani General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi and the Allied Chief of Staff General Jagjit Singh Aurora, were present at the signing ceremony. The sculpture will be exactly like the scene of Niazi signing the surrender document.
The table will be the same one as the original table. The original table is preserved in the National Museum. The sculpture will be 10 and a half feet. It will be built on a foundation of about one and a half feet. It will be about 20 feet long and 16 feet wide.
After independence, on March 17, 1972, Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India and one of the friends of the Great Liberation War, delivered a speech at this racecourse ground during her visit to Bangladesh. Indira Mancha was made for her reception. The place of this Indira Mancha has also been marked and a memorial will be built here.
Besides, a fountain will be constructed here by renovating the reservoir of the Independence Pillar. The glaring projection of the water of this fountain can be seen with light and sound.
Three types of design benches will be set up at different places in the park for the rest of the visitors to have rest. The open stage at the edge of Bangla Academy will also be renovated. Parts of the Faculty of Fine Arts will also be built in a new style.
Secretary at the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs TapanKanti Ghosh said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the work on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the independence. Work is being done accordingly and when the work of the project is completed, the important places of the great liberation war will be preserved.
The next generation will come here and know the real history of the liberation war. In addition, there will be an excellent entertainment for children. However, it will not be possible to complete all the work within the stipulated time, he added.
The prominent places that will come under the Boloy belt include the national museum, public library, Faculty of Fine Arts, Nazrul's grave, central mosque and central library of Dhaka University, Raju sculpture, SwoparjitoSwadhinata, Milon memorial, TSC, Bangla Academy, Shishu Academy, Old Arts Faculty Building of DU, historic Amtola gate, Central Shaheed Minar, Tin NetarMajar, Dhaka Gate, Jatiya Press Club, Shilpakala Academy, Institution of Engineers, International Mother Language Institute, Bailey Road NatokSaroni, Dhaka Officers' Club, Bangladesh BetarBhaban, and Dhaka Club.
