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Recommendations to Save Lalbagh Fort and Announcement of Forthcoming Movement

Environmentalist organizations fear that High Court order will be denied strategically as it has been done before in the case of protecting Lalbagh Fort.  On 29th June 2015, Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, NASAF, Protyasha, Peace, International Tourism Students Confederation, Shoccho Foundation, Orunodoyer Torun Dol, Onirban Samaj Kalyan Sangstha, Mastul Foundation, Green Mind Society, Ainer Pathshala, Poribesh Unnoyon Society, Poriborton Chai and Barosik jointly demanded to protect Lalbagh Fort according to the recommendations from UNESCO.   

Speakers said that diminishing wall of Lalbagh Fort to build car parking infrastructure is a shameful act. It is violation of Bangladesh Constitution Article 24; Antiquities Law, 1968; Dhaka Mahanagar Building (Construction, Development, Protection and Removal) Rule' 2008 and High Court Order. They demanded punishment of those who are responsible for the damage of Lalbagh Fort. 

They also said that building car parking will benefit only few and will cause traffic jam, pollution and accident in the highly populated area. If authority wants to facilitate tourists then public transport system and walking environment should be developed. Tourists are seen to walk to archeological beauty in different countries.  

They announced to continue their campaign through giving recommendations to the Director General of Department of Archeology; view exchange with various social, political and cultural organizations to gain public support; signature campaign; letter campaign and campaign through social media. 

Speakers presented some recommendations to protect Lalbagh Fort:

Punishment for those who are responsible for the decision and implementation of car parking infrastructure in the Fort; Setting up an investigation team to investigate the destructive act; Immediately stop building paring infrastructure and bringing back Lalbagh Fort to its previous condition (garden); Creating Core Zone, buffer zone and building 5 meter wide walkway to help Lalbagh Fort for achieving world heritage status (according to UNESCO recommendation); Developing public transport and walking environment for tourists; Recruiting guides for the welcome of foreign tourists; Controlling entry of car and other heavy vehicles on weekend in that specific area; Fixing entry time of freights before dawn and after evening; Coordination among all relevant organization to protect Lalbagh and other heritage.

Engineer Sajjadur Rashid, Heritage Protecting Committee, secretariat member, POBA   presented written speech in the press conference. Abu Naser Khan, chairman, POBA; Aleya Parvin Ronju, Commissioner, Ward no 24; Maruf Hossain, National Advocacy Officer, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust; Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam; Subrata Das Khokon, Secretary General, Ainer Pathshala; Burhanuddin ahmed, Poribesh Unnoyon Society; Md. Nazrul Islam; Ashikur Rahman Ovi, President, International Tourism Confederation etc were present in the press conference.