TSC, DMCH, National Museum, Public Library to be reconstructed: PM

The area from Shahbagh to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) is going to have a facelift as the government plans to reconstruct some major structures, reports UNB.

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina spoke about the plan while talking to leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on Thursday night at her official residence Ganobhaban, her deputy press secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher told UNB.

The BCL leaders, led by new acting president Al-Nahean Khan Joy and new Acting General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee, met Sheikh Hasina, who is the organisational guardian of the BCL.

The prime minister said four large structures - the National Museum, the Public Library, the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University and the DMCH- will be reconstructed.

She said there were only 4,000-5,000 students when the TSC was constructed in the 1960s. But the number of DU students and teachers is now over 40,000. Besides, TSC auditorium and cafeteria are decades old.

Sheikh Hasina said the TSC will be reconstructed so that the TSC complex can accommodate the huge number of teachers and students, offices of various cultural and socio-political organisations.

An international standard auditorium will also be constructed at the TSC, she said, adding that a plan to develop the TSC complex has already been prepared.

About the Public Library, she said the international standard will be maintained while reconstructing the structure to make it very eye-catching.

The size of the Public Library will be doubled to accommodate the larger number of readers and researchers. Those who will go there can also enjoy the aesthetic beauty of the library complex.

The area centering a pond will be turned into a beautiful place for readers to pass time, she added.

Sheikh Hasina said the plan and design of the museum have already been prepared to construct it anew to give it a fresh aesthetic view.

About the DMCH, the prime minister said the hospital will be reconstructed to allow it serve 4,000-5,000 patients at a time. The DMCH will be equipped with modern facilities and equipment, she said.

The prime minister said the metro rail will be made soundproof on the Shahbagh-TSC-Doel Chattar route for maintaining a congenial atmosphere for education on the campus.

She said DU students have nothing to worry as the metro rail will not disrupt the atmosphere.

Referring to the protest of a group of students against the construction of metro rail route and its station on the DU campus, Sheikh Hasina said she herself fixed the route considering the welfare of people from all classes.

The prime minister said she fixed the Shahbagh-TSC-Doel Chattar route considering the wellbeing of the students and patients alongside the common people.

"It'll be computerised and [there'll be] latest model electronic trains which will automatically have a stoppage in very station," she was quoted as saying.

Hasina said a large international standard platform will be constructed in the TSC area considering the movement of huge students.

The government will also construct a large underpass in front of the Bangla Academy considering the movement of students and the Ekushey Book Fair, she said.

The DU students will largely be benefited due to the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), said the prime minister.

She said the construction work of the metro rail was continuing in full swing. The entire Dhaka city will be brought under metro rail network by constructing underground rail (tube) and elevated rail in various places.

She said the government will also construct elevated ring roads surrounding Dhaka city to facilitate the movement of the city dwellers.