The New Nation - Internet Edition

Customs automation

THERE are areas where timely reforms, including specially full automation, can lead to very substantial increases in revenue collection of the government. One such area is the customs administration which is by far the single biggest revenue earner. But its outmoded prevailing mode of conducting customs procedures, manually, makes a huge difference in revenue collection from the various manipulations and corruptions which have become an integral part of this system.

Some quarters have vested interests in retaining the present system to evade full payment of customs duty. The government employees in the customs department themselves also form part of these interest groups in many cases. They visualise automation as threatening their dominance of the system and in getting bribes. But generally, businesses have no objection to such automation because they know the same will actually help them with hassle-free operations and spare them from making underhand payments to get their goods cleared quickly.

Automation of customs procedures would have multiple prospects. It would lead to a big rise in the collection of revenue for the government. The costs of doing business would fall significantly from the efficiency in handling cargoes at ports. For example, the present annual earnings of the Customs Houses would go up significantly. Automation is likely to decrease the prevailing complex and bureaucratic customs procedures dramatically. There are now some 45 complex manual procedures to be followed that create inordinate delays in the clearance of goods. The same also hazard the proper valuation of the goods for customs purposes. The same will come down to 25 such procedures with the introduction of automation and lend both speed to the entire process and much accuracy and fairness in evaluation of duties.

G8 move for GHG emission cut

THE recently concluded G8 summit practically achieved nothing with regard to reduction of greenhouse gas emission. It ended with a wish for reduction of GHG emission. But emission cut is not just a matter of formal recognition to the need for action against climatic changes, it should lead to binding targets without which a general call is likely to turn hollow. This is exactly what might happen to the G8 endorsement of 50 percent reduction target by the year 2050.

The Group of Eight expressed its intent to work with all countries involved with the UN climate change talks to adopt a goal of halving GHG emissions. But this general agreement seriously runs short of time-bound concrete steps indispensable for achieving the goal. The summit failed to fix a base year from which the GHG reduction could be calculated. Without it the percentage carries little meaning. The US contradicted the need for setting any timeframe and termed Europe's 25 to 40 percent target by 2020 'unrealistic'. Though Japan has set a target of its own, it also suffers from the lack of mid-term goal. The US would not agree to binding targets unless China and India made commitments. Thus, emission cut by the G8 countries has been made conditional to the commitments of other major emerging economies.

The global climatic conditions have turned alarming. According to information from NASA, the climate has crossed the safe carbon dioxide level of 350 PPM and reached to 385 PPM. The already thin layer of ice at the North Pole is apprehended to melt within this summer. Calamities are razing over the globe with unprecedented frequency and ferocity. The peoples of the world must persuade the big GHG emitters to agree to time-bound emission cut target.

Controlling floods through river bank protection dams

Moazzem Hossain Khan

Bangladesh is located in the deltaic zone of the three major rivers like the Bramaputra/ Jamuna, the Ganges and the Meghna with innumerable tributaries and distributaries. This river network system is greatly contributing to the economy of the country in various ways like navigation facility, fisheries development, irrigation, Hydro power generation, operation of thermal power plants, industries, supply of potable and other types of water requirements

2.Most part of the country has been formed with silt carried by the major rivers during flood. Because of high discharges of the major rivers their width are also considerably large. Although velocities of these rivers are not very high but because of alluvial soil banks erode easily.As per hydrological report maximum velocity is observed at Mawa where no bank erosion is observed because the bank soil is sticky clay.Similarly 20miles long canal between Fatepur and Haridaspur of greater Faridpur District, dug out during old British days, shows no erosion in the bank because of sticky peat soil. This is evident that erosion could be stopped if we could protect the bank soil. The erosion problem is so severe that this is considered as the worst catastrophes of the country. As per Bangladesh water Development Board source about half of the 64 district headquarters, one sixth of 460 upazila headquarters and about 100 business centers have been subjected to serious erosion .

The reasons of erosions are (a) Velocity,(b)wave (c)Swirl and (d) soil saturated with rain water help in falling of bank during receding and rising water level.

3.On close observation it will reveal that revetment works under BWDB are normally carried out with C.C. blocks, concrete slabs and sand filled geo bags which are placed over the slope of embankment starting from the top and up to the lowest water level. Because of the visibility problem under water portion of the bank and toe cannot be covered satisfactorily in this method.Normally the method can protect the bank from current and wave wash during higher water level. However the revetment , Groyne/spur works remain vulnerable to erosion due to swirl/scour in the under water portion of the river bank, toe and bed . Annual loss of land due to bank erosion is about 10,000 hectars.Most of the displaced persons losing land and home take shelters in the slum areas of cities to lead hard life in one hand.This also cause problem in the city planning on the other.

It may be mentioned here that no substantial protection work has yet been attempted along main river banks and some major township of special nature.In this regard mention may be made of Chand pur town where no attempt in the past either through construction of spur/groyes with loose boulder and C.C. blocks, revetment and dumping of sand filled geo bags against the steep bank slope and deep scour at toe (upto around 150') could stand the fury of the combined flow of the Brahmaputra,the Padma and the Meghna during the high monsoon.It is considered wise that before attempting to further protection work of this town ship of great commercial importance flow should be diverted through Gorai river, Arial Khan river-Modhumati Beel route (20miles long canal between Fatepur and Haridaspur in greater Faridpur District dug out during old British days which because of peat soil shows no erosion in the bank ) and old Brahmaputra river.These routes should be maintained properly.In our country spurs and groyens are constructed to divert flow of the river away from the bank to avoid erosion.Normally such diverted flow hits other places of the bank requiring further construction of structure in new locations In addition deep scour mostly uproot such structure resulting in its meaningless investment. However if it seems successful for some time this pose problem for good navigation facility with the bank .

4.Our rivers mostly follow sign curve in which erosions appear in the periphery of the outer curves. So possible erodable bank area can mostly be identified during low water stage when proper protective work are possible. Instead due to various reasons our normal practice is fire fighting type i.e. protection works are mostly attempted during monsoon when erosion starts. Obviously this can not ensure satisfactory work and cost also cannot be controlled accurately .In this method erosion of underwater portion of the bank cannot be prevented satisfactorily without which all expenditure either on construction of flood control embankment or revetment work prove of little value.

It is understood that the Mississippi river of USA has similar alluvial soil as that of our river banks. The US army core of Engineers has carried out many years research and developed articulated concrete slab mats of 3" thick. They cast the mats of sizes 4'x25' (as per their convenient standard with 16 number slabs connected with 3/16" diameter steel wires) on plain land, cure for 28 days to attain strength of 4000 P.S.I and keep the mats in stack. During low water level the mats are carried to vulnerable eroding area where banks are properly sloped and compacted.The mats are connected over sloping deck barge both in length and width. Top ends of the of the assembled mats are anchored with the bank just over lowest water line with the help of wires and anchor plates. Placing of the mat are done with the help of rollers and slopping deck of the barge to cover up to deepest scouring part of the under water bank and toe. After placing first piece of mat subsequent sections of mats are placed overlapping the first section .The process is continued until the entire vulnerable portion of the bank is covered. Since vulnerable part of the bank and toe is covered with concrete slab mats further erosion is stopped.

The bare portion of the bank above lowest water level is however covered either with riprap or as now practiced in our country.

The US army core of Engineers found the method most effective and economical (cost per square feet of mat is about the same as that of a good carpet).They are practicing the method since 1928 and already covered over 2700 km of both eroding banks of the Mississippi river. Besides More than 600km of meandering bank have also been shortened and protected.

Mississippi River bank protection works have following advantages;

a) It is economical (cost per sft is about that of the cost of floor carpet) and effective.

b) Its maintenance cost is very low. About 2% per anum

c) Since the articulated concrete slab mat can stop erosion of under water portion of bank and toe deep water channel can be brought close to the bank for better navigation.

d) With Mississippi river method spur can be constructed on the opposite side of shallow channel to increase velocity of the flow to help navigation in one hand and also to scour away any deposited silt from the top of the mat on the other.

e) Since concrete slab mats are flexible it can follow and cover any contour of under water bank and toe.(This can reduce present imaginable dumping of bags and materialas in the under water portion of river bank)

f) Since the casting of the mats is done in advance in plain land it is measurable and its quality can be controlled.

Here are some suggestion:

a) In our country comprehensive river bank protection work should be considered priority. Protection measure should include protection of the under water portion of embankment without which only protection of above low water portion mostly prove futile and in such situation construction of Flood protection embankment without proper protective measure may also prove meaningless.

(b) Bangladesh Water Development Board should follow the River bank under water protection measures as practiced in Mississippi River of U.S.A. to stop major bank erosion problem and help in the stabilization of bank. It is hoped that the method if adopted will solve most of our present problem. In case of rivers with high waves the suggested concrete slab mats may be further loaded with heavy concrete blocks to help keep the mat in position. Wires may be inserted in these blocks during casting .These blocks with wires could be tied with mats at the time of placing from the top of the barges.

(c) The suggested diversion of concentrated flow at Chandpur may help in the protection work of the town which has very commercial importance. Besides helping in the protection work the areas through which these rivers will flow will be benefited economically.

(d) The practice of dumping geo bag/jute bag/polythine bags, filled with sand may however continue as temporary and emergency measure like fire fighting but this should not be considered as permanent solution to our problem.

e) It is considered that the Mississippi river bank protection works if adopted in our country bank erosion for most of our small rivers could be stopped.In case of large rivers with high waves the articulated mats could be super loaded with heavy concrete blocks with wires which could be tied with mats at the time placing from top of the barges.

f)It is understood that for Mississippi River bank protection work only one mat laying barge of 200 feet length and one 75 ton capacity crane for handling materials are used. In our case more than one unit of smaller size mat laying barges and smaller capacity cranes could be used.In this case available barges in the country could be made suitable for the purpose and available cranes could also be used to reduce new investment cost.

400 years of Capital Dhaka

Faruque Hasan

This year, 2008 A.D., is the 400th anniversary of Dhaka as a capital; though Dhaka as a town or an urban settlement is much older than it is as a capital. How old is Dhaka City is very difficult to say.

King Srigupta of north Bangladesh laid down the foundation of the illustrious Gupta Empire (320-450 A.D.) of the Indian history. Harisen, the poet-laureate of Emperor Shamudragupta, who was the grandson of Srigupta, mentioned of 'Dabaka' in his eulogy for the Emperor, 'Allahabad Prashasti' written in the 4th century A.D. Dabaka mentioned in that inscription is today's Dhaka.

King Ballal Sen, the second ruler of the Sena Dynasty (1195-1204 A.D.), built the Dhakeswari temple in Dhaka more than eight hundred years back from today. No trace of that temple can now be seen, but the four Siva temples erected by Raja Man Singh, the commander-in-chief of Emperor Akbar, at the site of that temple, in the wake of 17th century still stand there. Man Singh stayed in Dhaka during the years 1602-04 A.D. while he was fighting against Isa Khan, the leader of the Bara Bhuiyn - the independent petty kings of Bangladesh.

The oldest brick structure, which still exists in Dhaka City, is the one-dome Binot Bibi Mosque at Narinda, built in 1457 AD. Though the mosque could save itself for about five hundred and fifty years from the onslaught of time and humid climate, unfortunately, it is now being demolished by some people, ignorant of national history and heritage. They are destroying this oldest structure of the Dhaka City to build a bigger mosque and a madrasha on the site.

The second oldest brick structure of the Dhaka city is the Mirpur Majar mosque, also one domed, and built in 1480 AD.

There was a big fort in Dhaka before it became the capital of Sube Bangla-a province of Mughal Empire. Mirza Nathan wrote in his book, Baharistan Ghaibi, that Dhaka and Gaur were the biggest forts in pre-Mughal period. Mirza Nathan came to Bangladesh in 1608 A.D. as a commander of Islam Khan, who as the Subadar (governor) of Bengal appointed by Emperor Jahangir. In fact, the word 'Dhakka' means a 'watch station'. Dhaka may have derived its name from its being a place for a watch station. Some people say that this city has got its name from the tree, Dhak (Butea frondosa), which used to grow in plenty at this place.

Dhaka is located close to two ancient capitals of Bengal, Vikrampur and Sonargown. So, it was very natural that this place was pivotal to the defense of these two capitals; and as a result, grew up as a cantonment town as well as a business center.

Islam Khan became the Subadar of Suba-e-Bangla (the province of Bengal) in 1608 A.D. At that time the capital of the Suba was Rajmahal. On being appointed as the Subadar, Islam Khan decided to transfer the capital from Rajmahal to Dhaka. He renamed Dhaka as Jahangirnagar after the name of Emperor Jahangir, his mentor, and sent two of his officers along with their subordinates to Dhaka two weeks ahead of him "to put the old fort into a good state of repair, and make it fit to receive the Governor".

On his way to Dhaka, his new capital, with his army, Islam Khan got engaged in fighting against Musa Khan, the son of Isa Khan and the then leader of the Bara Bhuiyn, at Ghoragat. The fighting delayed his arrival to Dhaka till the year of 1610 A.D. Musa Khan's tomb and a mosque built by him now located on the courtyard of Shaidulla Hall.

In Dhaka, Islam Khan used to stay in the old fort, which is now the Dhaka Central Jail. Since his time Dhaka started growing bigger in size as a capital. Manrique, who came to Dhaka in 1640 A.D., described it as a "great and famous city". He mentioned of a Magh raid on Dhaka which had taken place twelve years before he came here. The Arakanese Magh king, Thudhamma, with the help of Portuguese, and on the invitation of Raja Kedar Roy, one of the Bara Bhuiyn, landed in Dhaka without any résistance from the Mughal contingent stationed here. The Magh spent three days sacking the city, setting fire to it at deferent parts. On hearing that a great force of Mughal cavalry was on the way to Dhaka, they left the city on forth day.

The Portuguese took away one of the daughters of Kedar Roy, Angelica, who was later traced at St. Helena, a island in the south Atlantic, helping the British conquer the island from the Portuguese. At that time many Bengalis used to work as Khalashi (sailors) in Portuguese ships. Ali was the leader of a group of khalashi. He joined hands with Angelica to help the British.

Tavernier visited Dhaka in 1666 A.D. and wrote, "Dhaka is a great town……….The length of this town is about two leagues." Captain Bowrey, who came to Dhaka about twelve years after Tavernier had come, wrote, "The city of Dhaka is very large and specious one……"

Mir Jumla was appointed the Governor of Bengal in 1660 A.D. He conducted a successful campaign against Assam. On his coming back from Assam he brought with him two huge cannons to Dhaka. The cannons were set on the bank of Buriganga River. One of them fell into the river and got lost for ever. The other, called Bibi Marium, transferred to Chalkbazar. Sometime in 1950s it was brought to the traffic island at Gulisthan, and became known as 'Gulisthaner Caman'. Once very famous, this cannon has got lost in oblivion of the people due to its present inconspicuous location at Osmani Uddyan.

Mir Jumla erected the Dhaka Gate, which now stands in good condition near the Doel Chattar. This was a gate on the north to enter the main part of the city at that time. Not much later Dhaka expanded further north beyond that gate, at one stage, up to Tongi. As a capital, Dhaka started flourishing fast in trade and commerce that attracted many foreign traders to it. The city became the main center for Muslin trade. Dutch, French, English, Armenian and Greek traders flocked to Dhaka to do business. They established their own trading houses. With the traders also came Christian missionaries.

The Portuguese Jesuit Missionary built the first church in Dhaka at Tejgown in 1677 A.D. Though at that time Tejgown was the suburb of Dhaka City, but afterwards when the city lost its status of a capital and gradually shrank, a thick jungle grew in between the city and Tejgown. In early nineteenth century, William Robinson wrote, "Tejga is a village …. The way to it from Dhaka lies through a dense jungle, once the site of numerous pleasure gardens: the walls of which in many places still remain. This jungle is beautiful in appearance, but it is not passed without danger, it being the habitation of tigers."

Prince Azam, son of Emperor Aurongajeb, started the construction of the Lalbag Fort in 1678 A.D., but before he could complete it he had to leave Sube Bangla. In his second tenure (1678-1680 A.D.) as the Subadar, Shaista Khan continued the construction of the fort. But on the death of his daughter, Pari Bibi, he abandoned the construction; and the fort remained incomplete. Lalbag Fort is going to be recognized soon as a 'World Heritage' by UNESCO. Ibrahim Khan became Subadar of Bengal in 1689 A.D. He built the Jinjira Palace on the south bank of Buriganga River. A wooden bridge on the river connected the palace to the north bank. Bishop Heber came to Dhaka in 1824 A.D. to consecrate the Anglican Church on Johnson Road, to the north of Bahadur Shah Park. He described Jinjira Palace as bigger than the Kremlin Palace in Moscow. After the Battle of Plasy in 1757 A.D., Amena Begum and Ghaseti Begum, the mother and aunt of Nowab Sirajuddawla, were kept as prisoners in this palace. On the behest of Miran, the son of Mir Zafar, they were taken to the river Dhaleswari and killed by drowning in the river.

A few decades back from now the ruins of the Jinjira Palace were traceable, but at present no trace of it is there; the destructive hands of human being have obliterated everything of it from the face of the earth.

Prince Azimushshan, grandson of Emperor Aurongajeb, became the Subadar of Bengal in 1697 A.D. The Emperor Appointed Murshid Kuli Khan as the Dewan of the Suba in 1700 A.D. The Subadar used to live in Rajmahal, but the Dewan, in Dhaka. The relation between the Subadar and the Dewan was extremely bad. Azimushshan made a futile attempt by his men in Dhaka to kill Murshid Kuli Khan in 1704 A.D. For the safety of his life, Murshid Kuli Khan immediately shifted his office from Dhaka to Murshidabad. When in 1717 A.D. he was appointed the Subadar, Murshidabad became the capital of Bengal. Though Dhaka remained as a seat for a deputy governor.

Murshid Kuli Khan built a beautiful mosque at Begum Bazaar. The mosque is now surrounded by shops on all sides. Our national mosque, Baitul Mokkarram has taught us that shops can be built around a mosque. We have been relentlessly following that teaching.Some famous Mughal buildings in Dhaka are: the tomb of Pari Bibi (1684), Bara Katra (1664), Choto Katra (1663), Husaini Dalan (1642), the Great Idgah (1640), Churihatta Mosque (1649), Satgombuz Mosque (1680), Khan Muhammad Mridha Mosque (1704) etc. Bara Katra and Choto Katra are now on the point of destruction. The mosque of the Great Idgah at Dhanmondi has been defaced in the name of extension. With the losing of the status as a capital at the hands of Murshid Kuli Khan, Dhaka started declining fast. During the time of Shaista Khan (1644-77 and 1680-88 A.D.), Dhaka City extended along the Burriganga River for about 10 (ten) miles. Rennell's map of Dhaka, published in 1780, showed that the extension of the city shark to only about four miles.

The lithographs and sketches of Dhaka City done by Sir Charles D'Oyly, who came to Dhaka in 1808 A.D. as the collector of the East India Company and left the city in 1824 A.D., show how the city lost its glamour and became almost ruined by that time.

During Mughal Period two rivers, Dulai and Pandu, with their branches used to flow through the Dhaka City. Dulai River gradually turned into Dholai Khal (canal) and in 1960's choked up with earth. Lohar pul (Iron Bridge) at Gandaria was on the Dulai River. There was a bridge on the Pandu River, known as Ambar Shah Bridge, which connected Shahbag with Kawran Bazzar. The deep and dry canal in Paribagh, which has very recently been filled up, and the canal in the back of Hotel Sonargown, which is now being excavated, are actually the parts of the course of Pandu River.

Pandu River had at least two branches to the south to fall into the Dulai River. One branch flowed east of Suhrawardy Uddyan in south-eastern direction. The trace of the other branch was visible even a few years back between Nazimuddin Road and Dhaka Medical Collage. Chankhar Pol was on this branch. Dulai and Pandu rivers have got obliterated in the hands of imprudent and land grabber human beings. It is now the turn for Burriganga, Turag and Balu rivers to get obliterated by them under the eyes of unconcerned administration.

At the partition of Bengal in 1905 A.D., Dhaka was made the capital of the newly formed province of East Bengal and Assam. But the bonanza was short lived. In 1912 A.D. the partition of Bengal was annulled by King Gorge the Fifth at Delhi Darbar, and Kolkata became the capital of united Bengal; at the same time the capital of the British-India Empire transferred from Kolkata to Delhi. Dhaka was compensated, for its being stripped of the status of a capital, with the establishment of Dhaka University in 1921 A.D. The residence building built for the teachers of the university on the Mintoo Road are now being used as the residence of ministers.

As the Old Dhaka is the Mughal part of the Dhaka City, Ramna area is the British part of it. Some landmark buildings in Dhaka built during British period are: North brook Hall, Ahsan Manjil, Rup Lal House, Curzon Hall, Old High Court building etc. Curzon Hall, now a part of the Dhaka University, was originally meant for a town hall. The Physics Building built to the west of the Curzon Hall during the Pakistan Period has such an ugly look that looking at the two buildings standing side by side make one remember the phrase 'the beauty and the beast.' The Physics Building could have been built after the architectural design of the Curzon Hall.

The British left Indian subcontinent in 1947 A.D., and Dhaka became the capital of East Bengal - the eastern wing of Pakistan. Later in 1956 A.D. the political name of East Bengal was changed into East Pakistan. With the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country in 1971 A.D. through the nine-month long liberation war, Dhaka has become the capital of the country.