UNB, Dhaka :The government has taken an initiative to turn Hatirjheel project into a better attractive site for visitors introducing some new entertainment facilities in the project area.In the original plan of Hatirjheel Area Integrated Development Project, there were some entertainment facilities, but the project authority in its fourth revised version included some other facilities so that the city dwellers can spend quality time there.The facilities included a theatre, laser-show, waterbuses and water-taxi service, fast food shops and restaurants.Since the opening (partial) of the project on January 2, 2013, the site has drawn huge visitors as the city dwellers have little scope to pass their leisure time in an open space. It has become one of the gathering hubs for the city people, especially on the weekend and festivals.The project, kicked off in July 2007, was originally scheduled to be completed by December 2010. But the project period was first extended for a year until December 2011 and later it got another time extension until December 2012. Later, it got third and forth extensions to complete the project.As per the fourth revised version approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on August 25, 2015, the Hatirjheel Area Integrated Development Project will be completed with an estimated cost of Tk 2,236.02 crore by 2016. Rajuk, assisted by the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED), Dhaka Wasa, Special Work Organisation (16 Engineers Construction Battalion) of Bangladesh Army, is implementing the project.Talking to UNB, project manager of Hatirjheel Project Nazrul Islam said a theatre will be built in the area with 2500 sitting capacities. The laser show will be arranged for the visitors through a ticketing system.Besides, a car-parking area will be built with a parking capacity of 250 vehicles at a time apart from having an office of the management to look after the entertainment facilities, he said. Waterbus and water-taxi service will be introduced so that visitors can roam around the project area apart from going to Rampura-Moghbazar-Karwanbazar areas to have their daily affairs done. Bus services, both AC and non-AC ones, will be available for coming to the spot, Nazrul added. Fast food shops and restaurants will be built at 22 spots across the project site and those will be leased out to intending people. Contacted, project director Jamal Akter Bhuiyan said, “We’ll provide all the facilities to build the spot as an entertainment hub. But, we aren’t thinking of declaring it a tourist spot.” The project will be completed by 2016, said project officer Major Shakil dding that it will take more time if the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka delays to fix land for constructing a flyover on Hatirjheel-Rampura road. About the security of the area, he said, “We have sent a proposal to the Home Ministry to establish a police station, named ‘Hatirjheel’, to ensure fool-proof security in the area.”
