“Bismillaheer Rahmaneer Raheem.”
O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous - [He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him]. Al-Quran 2: 21 – 22
Hatirjheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Also known as Hatirjheel-Begunbari) is a commercial area lies in the heart of capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka. Inaugurated on January 2, 2013, Hatirjheel has originally made as a transportation hub to minimize traffic but the area soon became one of the most luxurious commercial and residential area of South Asia. Hatirjheel is considered the center of skyscraper boom in Bangladesh.
The area was constructed under Bangladesh Army and 'Special Works Organization' (SWO). Soon after the development of Hatirjheel, It became one of the most celebrated tourist attraction due to organized planning and architecture. There are currently numerous Skyscrapers under construction to give Dhaka a Waterfront Skyline. Building the entire site cost 19.71 billion (19710 million) Taka in an area of 302 acres.[1] In it 10.48 billion (10480 million) taka was spent in having the site. RAJUK has 46% of the area which includes an area of 81 acres to court of walks, 141 acres for public lands and 1 acre for BTV. The project first permitted in October 2007. The project was said to be finished in three years time (in June 2010), but the construction began in December 2008. It took further half year time for expanding it. The total money to create the project included the money of RAJUK (1113.7 billion taka), LGED (2760 million) and WASA (866.95 million). The entire Hatirjheel is meticulously designed with about four main and four minor bridges (viaducts) and several overpasses for pedestrians. There are also many sitting arrangements for pedestrians by the river-side. A lake flows through the heart of the project with a 16 km road beside the lake for traffic. Besides, it has a picturesque view, and people from all over the Bangladesh comes to see this amazing place. Boat rides are available and facilities are there for small scale family picnics. At night, lights of different colours illuminate the entire Hatirjheel, especially on the bridges. The area has been delightfully decorated with flowering shrubs and colorful flags. Once completed, the project became a place for the pleasure-seekers. As Dhaka is densely populated, and is occupied with numerous congested buildings, resulting a suffocating environment due to the shortage of fresh air, but conveniently Hatirjheel has lots of spaces to contain fresh air, as a result the people could visit and feel the fresh air.
Furthermore, Hatirjheel is considered to be one of the most notable places in Dhaka. In 2015, Dhaka City Corporation have taken up the task to transform Hatirjheel into South Asia's most upscale Area. Hatijheel currently offers floating restaurants and water taxi.
