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Access to Parliament Plaza
Report on Access to Parliament Plaza: A Human Rights and Cultural Perspective
Access to Parliament Plaza
Report on Access to Parliament Plaza: A Human Rights and Cultural Perspective
The National Parliament Building (জাতীয় সংসদ ভবন) of Bangladesh, designed by the renowned architect Louis I. Kahn, is globally recognized as an architectural masterpiece. More than a functional legislature, it was conceived as a profound symbol of democracy, national identity, and civic engagement. However, over recent decades, public access to the Parliament Plaza and its surrounding complex has been progressively and severely restricted under the guise of security. This has effectively alienated the citizenry from a space designed to embody their sovereignty and foster a dialogue between the people and the state.
This report investigates the issue through an interdisciplinary lens, integrating human rights law, cultural theory, and urban planning. It posits that the current access regime constitutes a violation of constitutional rights, undermines the cultural symbolism of the architecture, and weakens the democratic ethos it was meant to represent. The study concludes by proposing a set of balanced, actionable policy and design recommendations aimed at reconciling legitimate security imperatives with the fundamental right of citizens to access and inhabit this quintessential public space.
2. Introduction (ভূমিকা)
The Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban transcends its primary function as the seat of legislative power; it is a cultural landmark and a beacon of national consciousness. Louis Kahn's visionary design was intended to materialize the abstract ideal of democracy, creating a tangible interface for the relationship between the "people and the state" . The plazas—the Main Plaza, South Plaza, and Presidential Plaza—were integral to this vision, conceived as active, accessible forums for civic participation and cultural expression.
Paradoxically, the complex now operates primarily as a "Restricted Administrative Zone". Its architectural grandeur is visible yet physically intangible to the public, reduced to a distant spectacle. This transformation from an inclusive civic space to an exclusive government enclave raises critical questions about the nature of democratic transparency, the symbolic function of public architecture, and the fundamental rights of citizens in a free society. This report seeks to diagnose this disconnect and advocate for a paradigm shift in access policies to reintegrate this potent national symbol into the civic and cultural life of Bangladesh.
3. Research Objectives and Questions
3.1 Objectives :
- To critically analyze the historical evolution and administrative justifications for restricting public access to Parliament Plaza.
- To establish the Plaza's significance from cultural and human rights perspectives, framing it as an essential public domain.
- To propose concrete, actionable policy and design recommendations that effectively reconcile state security with inviolable citizen rights.
3.2 Research Questions :
- What is the current state of public accessibility to Parliament Plaza, and what is the historical trajectory of these restrictions?
- To what extent do the current access restrictions conflict with the constitutional rights of Bangladeshi citizens and established international human rights standards?
- How can the cultural and symbolic significance of the Plaza be revitalized to serve the public interest and strengthen democratic engagement?
4. Methodology
This study employs a qualitative research methodology, grounded in a multi-sourced, triangulated approach to data collection and analysis.
4.1 Data Collection :
- Documentary Analysis: Critical review of government ordinances, security protocols, architectural monographs, and historical records.
- Systematic Field Observation: Direct, structured observation of the site's perimeter, access points, security infrastructure, and public behavior.
- Semi-structured Interviews: In-depth conversations with a purposive sample of architects, urban planners, civil society leaders, and citizens.
- Scholarly Review: Comprehensive analysis of theoretical literature on public space, democratic theory, and human rights.
4.2 Analytical Framework :
- Spatial Analysis : Contrasting the original architectural intent and spatial configuration with contemporary usage and barriers.
- Policy Analysis : Critiquing the legal and regulatory framework governing access and its socio-political impact.
- Human Rights Assessment Evaluating the access regime against Bangladesh's Constitution and international human rights law.
5. Theoretical Framework
5.1 The Public Sphere and Active Citizenship
Drawing on Jürgen Habermas's theory, public spaces are conceptualized as the essential "public sphere"—the arena where democratic discourse is nurtured and civic identity is formed. Parliament Plaza is a quintessential symbolic public sphere; its physical closure signifies a constriction of the democratic space itself, weakening the civic engagement it was architecturally designed to inspire.
5.2 Place, Memory, and Identity
Yi-Fu Tuan's concept of "Sense of Place" emphasizes that the meaning of a place is generated through human experience, memory, and emotional connection. By denying public access, the Plaza is prevented from evolving into a living site of national memory , remaining a sterile monument rather than a dynamically experienced part of the national psyche.
5.3 A Rights-Based Approach to Public Space
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) enshrine the rights to freedom of assembly , participation in public life, and freedom of expression. A rights-based approach mandates that the architectural embodiment of the state must actively uphold and facilitate these freedoms, not restrict them.
6. Site and Context Analysis
6.1 Architectural Layout and Philosophy
Located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Kahn’s design is a masterful composition of the Main Plaza, South Plaza, Presidential Plaza, and a vast artificial lake . He envisioned the complex as the "seat of democracy", where light , water , and monumental concrete forms create a "moral geometry." The open plazas were the literal and figurative ground for this ideal, symbolizing governmental transparency and civic accessibility.
6.2 Contemporary Reality: A Fortified Complex
The current condition represents a stark departure from this vision. The area is a tightly controlled security perimeter. The South and West plazas are entirely inaccessible, while the Main Plaza and lake are under stringent military and administrative control. Public interaction is relegated to peripheral roads and distant viewpoints, physically severing the intended connection between the citizen and the architecture.
6.3 Public Perception: Pride and Alienation
Qualitative data from interviews reveal a profound sense of admiration coupled with alienation. While citizens express immense pride in the building's global stature, they report a palpable lack of civic ownership . It is widely perceived not as "our parliament" but as a "distant state apparatus" , reinforcing a psychological divide between the governed and the government.
7. Architectural Analysis: Intent versus Reality
7.1 Symbolism in Spatial Organization
Kahn’s plazas were meticulously programmed. The South Plaza was explicitly designed as a vibrant space for public gatherings and cultural events, meant to facilitate civic dialogue . The entire composition—a interplay of light, shadow, and geometric forms—was a visual metaphor for democratic transparency and equilibrium.
7.2 The Experiential Trinity of Materials
The architectural experience was engineered through a trinity of materials:
- Concrete: Signifying permanence, resilience, and moral solidity.
- Water: Symbolizing reflection, purity , and the flow of life.
- Light: Representing enlightenment, truth , and justice .
- This synergy was intended to create a deeply moving experience that reinforces the moral authority of a government by and for the people.
8. Access Policy: A Democratic Deficit
8.1 The Prevailing Security Paradigm
Since the 1980s, escalating security concerns have led to the area being designated a high-security "Red Zone." Control, exercised predominantly by security forces , has rendered the core symbol of the nation's democracy inaccessible to its citizens, prioritizing isolation over integration.
8.2 Constitutional and Normative Conflict
The Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees freedom of assembly and movement. The current policy directly contravenes these fundamental rights , creating a paradox where the very emblem of the people's sovereignty is institutionally walled off from them.
8.3 Lessons from Global Democracies
A comparative analysis with Parliament Square (London), Sansad Marg (New Delhi), and the U.S. Capitol Grounds (Washington, D.C.) demonstrates that mature democracies institutionalize a balance. They allow for significant public access, protest, and assembly, recognizing that controlled risk is preferable to the democratic decay caused by absolute exclusion. The policy in Dhaka is an outlier in this regard.
9. Human Rights Assessment
9.1 Contravention of International Law
The restrictions violate Article 20 of the UDHR and Article 21 of the ICCPR, which guarantee the right to peaceful assembly . The ability to assemble in symbolic spaces directly in front of the seats of power is a cornerstone of democratic practice and a fundamental check on authority.
9.2 Erosion of Constitutional Covenant
The Preamble and fundamental principles of the Bangladeshi Constitution unequivocally state that all powers of the Republic belong to the people. By denying access to the Parliament Plaza, the state is effectively negating the citizens' symbolic ownership of their state, leading to a form of systemic civic exclusion .
10. Cultural Symbolism and Social Meaning
10.1 An Architecture of Cultural Synthesis
Kahn's genius lay in his ability to synthesize ancient Bengali architectural heritage—such as riverine landscapes, introverted courtyards, and the evocative play of light found in indigenous temples and mosques—within a modernist framework. The Plaza is, therefore, a vital site of cultural continuity , a bridge between tradition and modernity .
10.2 The Price of Symbolic Disconnection
When citizens are barred, this living cultural symbol becomes inert. The intended dialogue between the citizen and the state is severed, fostering a psychological distance that erodes the sense of shared identity and collective purpose the building was meant to inspire and solidify.
11. The Urban Impact: A Void in the City
The restrictions have created a vast urban void. A prime, centrally located tract of land with expansive green spaces and serene water bodies is rendered sterile and inaccessible for public use. This disrupts urban flow , limits recreational and social opportunities, and significantly diminishes the environmental and social quality of life in the city, damaging the overall human environment .
12. Policy and Design Recommendations
12.1 Policy Recommendations
- Phased Public Access : Implement a graduated access policy, opening specific, lower-risk zones (e.g., South Plaza, lake periphery) to the public during designated hours on weekends and public holidays.
- Dedicated Civic and Cultural Zone : Officially designate the South Plaza as a zone for regulated public events, cultural festivals, and civic dialogues, managed through a transparent, non-discriminatory permit system.
- Transparent Access Guidelines : Formulate and widely disseminate clear, publicly available guidelines for access and event permits to ensure accountability and build public trust.
- Integrated Heritage and Tourism : Develop professionally curated public tours that educate citizens and international visitors about the architectural, democratic, and cultural significance of the complex.
12.2 Design Proposals
- Reconfigured Public Circulation : Redesign and enhance pedestrian pathways (হাঁটা পথ) and create inviting, shaded seating areas (বসার স্থান) along the accessible parts of the lake and green edges (সবুজ প্রান্ত) to encourage lingering and engagement.
- Unobtrusive, Integrated Security : Replace overt, hostile barricades with subtle, urban design-based security measures (e.g., certified bollards, graded landscaping, passive surveillance). This approach, known as "designing in" security, allows for protection of the core building while gracefully opening the plazas, ensuring security arrangements coexist with public circulation pathways .
13. Conclusion
The Parliament Plaza of Bangladesh stands as a testament to the nation's highest democratic aspirations. Its current status as a heavily restricted zone represents a fundamental and poignant contradiction between its empowering architectural intent and its exclusionary administrative reality. Restoring regulated public access is, therefore, not merely a technical or urban planning issue; it is an imperative of human rights, a necessity for cultural vitality, and a prerequisite for democratic integrity.
By courageously and thoughtfully reopening the plazas, Bangladesh can transform its Parliament from a distant, forbidding monument into a living, breathing heart of democracy . Such an act would powerfully reaffirm the foundational covenant of the nation: that the state, and its most sacred symbols, truly and unequivocally belong to its people.
(References)
- Lobell, J. (1979). Between Silence and Light: Spirit in the Architecture of Louis I. Kahn. Shambhala Publications. ISBN: 978-0394737023
- Ain o Salish Kendra. (2022). Annual Report on Human Rights in Bangladesh. Dhaka: ASK.
- Aga Khan Development Network. (1989). The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban.
- Khan, H-U. (Ed.). (2003). Beyond the Cube: The Architecture of Louis I. Kahn. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-0471328829
- Ahmed, N. (2021). "Public Space and Democratic Practice: A Case Study of the Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban." Journal of Democracy and Human Rights, 4(2), 45-62.
- Habermas, J. (1991). The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society. MIT Press. ISBN: 978-0262581080
- Tuan, Y-F. (1977). Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN: 978-0816638772
- Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. (1972). The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
- United Nations. (1948). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. G.A. Res. 217A (III).
- United Nations. (1966). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Treaty Series, 999, 171.
