Flows the blessed from Mount Lusai
Architect Dr Nizamuddin Ahmed
It has now almost become a cliché to raise one's voice to save the elements of nature, the rivers of Bangladesh being of much interest and media coverage what with rising silt, erosion, loss of navigability and pollution common across the land.Without the slightest of suggestion to belittle any one of the environmentalists, many of them totally dedicated to the cause, the efforts of Forum for Planned Chittagong (FPC) to conserve the endangered Karnaphuli River is the tuning of a new leaf in its very scientific approach. By FPC's admission, not any different from other zealous warriors of Mother Nature, Karnaphuli in Chittagong is 'a generous river created for the benefit of mankind' and they feel 'responsible to take care' of this God's gift. The forum's self-imposed vow to conserve the navigable channel and to stabilize the river both upstream and down stream manifests the present's commitment to a century-old struggle. Architect Q S Tauheed's paper, the first part of which is published today, is based on a comprehensive study undertaken to acquaint with the morphological changes in the river the city's lifeline, the consequence of training and dredging works as implemented and those proposed, and to identify the works yet to be accomplished to save the river from further humiliation. His and the forum's commendable work required in-depth search in thankfully still exiting records and reports of old. AUC, that's us, shall carry the remaining parts of the paper in subsequent issues. FPC came to limelight in late 2002 because of their firm and laudable stand against uprooting of the centennial Chittagong Court building on Fairy's Hill, a unique movement in which they took in more fruits than dropped despite the fact that architectural plans had been completed by the concerned government department. One can assume with a high degree of hope that the methodical approach chosen by the 'chosen few' will have enough sap to convince and motivate decision-makers at both local and national levels. A popular Chittagonian song narrates how the water plays up bits and pieces of waves as it comes down from Lusai Pahad (mountain) and runs to Karnaphuli. Architect Tauheed's report for FPC's socio-economic, humanitarian and environmental programme for their river is certain to cause more than just a ripple. The author is Professor of Architecture at BUET and Consultant to the Editor on Urban Issues
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