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FEARS OF TIME - REVITALIZING THE RIVERBANK OF SHITALAKSHYA & IT'S HISTORICAL PAST

FEARS OF TIME – Revitalizing the riverbank of Shityalaksha & it’s historical past. “A river is a river, always there, and yet the water flowing through it is never the same water and is never still. It's always changing and is always on the move. And over time the river itself changes too. It widens […]

FEARS OF TIME – Revitalizing the riverbank of Shityalaksha & it’s historical past.

“A river is a river, always there, and yet the water flowing through it is never the same water and is never still. It's always changing and is always on the move. And over time the river itself changes too. It widens and deepens as it rubs and scours, gnaws, and kneads, eats and bores its way through the land.” QUOTE While only being a tiny fraction of the Earth’s total space, rivers have been focal points in geography for centuries. When we talk about river landscapes, sometimes called riverscapes, we mean the formations of the land in and around rivers as well as the features of the rivers themselves. Rivers and land have a back- and-forth relationship, each one impacting the other in different ways. Rivers engage in three important processes that change the landscape around them: erosion, transportation, and deposition. Now, when we talk about land & rivers. Bangladesh is a land of rivers. There are many rivers in our country. In fact, the pride of Bangladesh is her rivers with one of the largest networks in the world. Despite being a very small country, Bangladesh has an amazing number of about 700 rivers. The Padma, the Meghna, the Jamuna are the big and wide rivers. Most of the rivers of our country rise from the Himalayas and fall into the Bay of Bengal.

Due to the unplanned urbanization and city planning, the river has unfortunately been neglected and has become a drawback area of the city. However, Narayanganj boasts its own rich historical past, with Mughal and Colonial heritage structures lining the riverbank. Despite the challenges, there has been a noticeable positive change in the bank area of the Shityalaksha river over time. Unfortunately, the riverside's drawbacks have led to a decrease in waterfront activity, transforming it into a neglected space within the city. This has resulted in various environmental issues, such as a lack of urban space, improper use as a service zone and waste disposal area, decreased public activity, and traffic congestion due to an inadequate road network. All of these problems can be attributed to the unplanned urbanization in the area. However, it is important to recognize the potential of the river as an urban vista and a public healing space. By creating an urban edge through the Shityalaksha, we can revive the historical significance and public attachment to this space. This approach will not only enhance the city's overall aesthetic, but also provide a valuable resource for its residents. Narayanganj owes its growth and development to the blessings of the river Shiyalaksha. The river divides the city into two parts and holds significant archaeological infrastructure. Recognizing the city's origins along the riverbank, it is evident that communication and activity through the river remain a unique blessing for the city. Let us embrace the potential of the river and work towards revitalizing its importance in our city's landscape. With confidence and determination, we can restore the historical significance and public connection to this valuable space.

Destroying cultural and historical resources is akin to dispossessing people of their identity, heritage, and collective memory. These resources serve as tangible manifestations of a community's past, embodying its triumphs, struggles, and evolution over time. They are the threads that weave together the fabric of a society's narrative, connecting individuals to their roots and providing a sense of belonging and continuity.

When these resources are willfully destroyed, whether through deliberate acts of vandalism, negligence, or the ravages of conflict, the consequences reverberate far beyond the physical loss. Communities are robbed of their ability to transmit their stories to future generations, hindering the understanding of where they come from and who they are. It is a form of cultural erasure, stripping people of their cultural autonomy and diminishing the richness of human diversity.

Furthermore, the destruction of cultural and historical resources often accompanies broader attempts to exert control, suppress dissent, or erase competing narratives. It is a tactic employed by oppressive regimes to manipulate collective memory, enforce homogeneity, and consolidate power. In this way, the obliteration of cultural heritage is not only an assault on the past but also a threat to the future, undermining the foundations of pluralism, tolerance, and mutual respect essential for a thriving society.

According to the references, we divided the whole site into four portions & found different character & different district type prominent river edges are surrounded by industrial zones. We created a commercial belt with respect the river route & the central spine to engage people & to increase their activity & to make the river edge as a positive space. To create a vista from every single node towards the river, we created an enclosure shape by providing some public function, like - marketplace, mosque, restaurant. A public corridor to enjoy the vista, breeze & to connect with nature. That will also increase the permeability of the city.

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Image: Agrapolis Urban Permaculture Farm by David Johanes Palar

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FEARS OF TIME – Revitalizing the riverbank of Shityalaksha & it’s historical past.

“A river is a river, always there, and yet the water flowing through it is never the same water and is never still. It's always changing and is always on the move. And over time the river itself changes too. It widens and deepens as it rubs and scours, gnaws, and kneads, eats and bores its way through the land.” QUOTE While only being a tiny fraction of the Earth’s total space, rivers have been focal points in geography for centuries. When we talk about river landscapes, sometimes called riverscapes, we mean the formations of the land in and around rivers as well as the features of the rivers themselves. Rivers and land have a back- and-forth relationship, each one impacting the other in different ways. Rivers engage in three important processes that change the landscape around them: erosion, transportation, and deposition. Now, when we talk about land & rivers. Bangladesh is a land of rivers. There are many rivers in our country. In fact, the pride of Bangladesh is her rivers with one of the largest networks in the world. Despite being a very small country, Bangladesh has an amazing number of about 700 rivers. The Padma, the Meghna, the Jamuna are the big and wide rivers. Most of the rivers of our country rise from the Himalayas and fall into the Bay of Bengal.

Due to the unplanned urbanization and city planning, the river has unfortunately been neglected and has become a drawback area of the city. However, Narayanganj boasts its own rich historical past, with Mughal and Colonial heritage structures lining the riverbank. Despite the challenges, there has been a noticeable positive change in the bank area of the Shityalaksha river over time. Unfortunately, the riverside's drawbacks have led to a decrease in waterfront activity, transforming it into a neglected space within the city. This has resulted in various environmental issues, such as a lack of urban space, improper use as a service zone and waste disposal area, decreased public activity, and traffic congestion due to an inadequate road network. All of these problems can be attributed to the unplanned urbanization in the area. However, it is important to recognize the potential of the river as an urban vista and a public healing space. By creating an urban edge through the Shityalaksha, we can revive the historical significance and public attachment to this space. This approach will not only enhance the city's overall aesthetic, but also provide a valuable resource for its residents. Narayanganj owes its growth and development to the blessings of the river Shiyalaksha. The river divides the city into two parts and holds significant archaeological infrastructure. Recognizing the city's origins along the riverbank, it is evident that communication and activity through the river remain a unique blessing for the city. Let us embrace the potential of the river and work towards revitalizing its importance in our city's landscape. With confidence and determination, we can restore the historical significance and public connection to this valuable space.

Destroying cultural and historical resources is akin to dispossessing people of their identity, heritage, and collective memory. These resources serve as tangible manifestations of a community's past, embodying its triumphs, struggles, and evolution over time. They are the threads that weave together the fabric of a society's narrative, connecting individuals to their roots and providing a sense of belonging and continuity.

When these resources are willfully destroyed, whether through deliberate acts of vandalism, negligence, or the ravages of conflict, the consequences reverberate far beyond the physical loss. Communities are robbed of their ability to transmit their stories to future generations, hindering the understanding of where they come from and who they are. It is a form of cultural erasure, stripping people of their cultural autonomy and diminishing the richness of human diversity.

Furthermore, the destruction of cultural and historical resources often accompanies broader attempts to exert control, suppress dissent, or erase competing narratives. It is a tactic employed by oppressive regimes to manipulate collective memory, enforce homogeneity, and consolidate power. In this way, the obliteration of cultural heritage is not only an assault on the past but also a threat to the future, undermining the foundations of pluralism, tolerance, and mutual respect essential for a thriving society.

According to the references, we divided the whole site into four portions & found different character & different district type prominent river edges are surrounded by industrial zones. We created a commercial belt with respect the river route & the central spine to engage people & to increase their activity & to make the river edge as a positive space. To create a vista from every single node towards the river, we created an enclosure shape by providing some public function, like - marketplace, mosque, restaurant. A public corridor to enjoy the vista, breeze & to connect with nature. That will also increase the permeability of the city.

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