TSC matters for next generation: Architects

Architects and academics have suggested preserving the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University (DU) with necessary renovations instead of demolishing it to build a modern infrastructure. 

While speaking at the TBS Current Affairs on Sunday night on the subject, "New building after bulldozing TSC: How logical is it?", they called on the government to take necessary steps to preserve the historic TSC building, which they said would help connect the next generation to the country's history.

Professor Lutfor Rahman, DU Teachers' Association acting president and also a teacher of the university's statistics department, said the TSC is a place close to the heart of Dhaka University. It has been the centre of political, social and cultural movements since the inception of the university close to a century ago.

"The TSC is now a place symbolising life not only for students and teachers of this university but also for the people of the country. The Greek architect who built it painted the rural image of the country reflecting the social context of Bangladesh."

The teacher said he himself got involved in the anti-authoritarian movement after he got enrolled at Dhaka University in 1985.

"Then we used the TSC to sort out our movement, and at the same time we used it to take shelter in it during the protests," he recalled.

"I do not think it needs to be bulldozed," said Prof Lutfor Rahman, referring to the need for renovation. He said it is necessary to preserve the original structure to create a bond with history for the next generation.

This teachers' association leader also believes that any initiative to expand TSC accommodation should follow the original plan.

In the meantime, renowned architect and painter Mustapha Khalid Palash said the old buildings in Dhaka are also being demolished due to the impact of the market economy. These buildings need to be preserved to connect the new generation to the country's history.

"The buildings need to be maintained through adaptive reuse by retaining the original features. The government has to take steps for this," said the architect.

"In the tide of development, steps for the demolition of Kamalapur Railway Station are nearly final. Amid this, when it comes to bulldozing the TSC, a kind of fear takes hold of us. It is unthinkable that the TSC will be demolished since there are so many memories associated with it," said Mustapha Khalid.

He told the virtual programme that even though he was a BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) student, the announcement of the bulldozing of the structure feels like "sudden death" to him.

He hoped the authorities would step back from the decision.

Mentioning that progressive thoughts and modern cultural activities had spread all over the country centring on the TSC, musician Pathik Nabi said the book fairs began through centering around the TSC.

He said, "Once the TSC had an influence on the country's music industry too. In the same way, this place protected us in the midst of political upheavals and conflicts. So, its importance is multi-faceted. The TSC cannot be demolished in any way."

Jahangirnagar University urban and regional planning Prof Dr Akter Mahmud said there are many old cities which have separate allocations for the conservation of such structures.

"We also have to take the conservative approach. A city usually has some establishments, those which at a point become landmarks. We have to take steps to preserve those landmarks through renovation," he noted.

Meanwhile, Dhaka University Teachers' Association President Prof Lutfor Rahman said, "As the president of the association, I tell you that the TSC should not go through heavy refurbishment if it is even to be renovated. The renovation must not change the basic structure. It is not like an institution on the banks of the Buriganga that needs to be knocked down for refurbishment."

The TSC is the work of legendary Greek architect and planner Constantinos Apostolos Doxiadis. He designed the TSC in the early 1960s. The adjacent building was later constructed as part of the so-called Decade of Development (1958-68) of the then Pakistani regime of General Ayub Khan.

There were several attempts to renovate the structure earlier, but they were stopped subsequently. One of them was to demolish the swimming pool next to the TSC and build a nine-storey building. The initiative of renovation by keeping the original structure intact, however, did not see the light of day.

Amid criticism from different corners, the Dhaka University authorities this time have sought opinions from the teachers and students of the university on the TSC's "overall development and expansion initiatives".

The acting chief engineer of the university sent a letter to the deans of all faculties and the directors of different institutes last Thursday seeking their views.

Meanwhile, the acting director of the TSC, Syed Ali Akbar, said he had not received any official notice from the university about the recent discussions aimed at rebuilding it. He said that public works department staffers came to the centre and surveyed the premises recently.