Staff correspondent :
North City Corporation (DNCC) has opened the beautiful footover bridge to the general public after its inauguration in the capital’s Farmgate area.
It has been built in keeping with the design of the traditional building Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan. Due to the artistic design of the footover bridge, common pedestrians can now cross the road using it with ease. There are also several entrances directly from the bridge to the nearby market.
At this time, a police box built near the footover bridge was also inaugurated.
Today, Sunday at 12:30 noon, a program was organized at Over Bridge on the occasion of opening at Farmgate.
Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan was present as the chief guest in the inauguration ceremony presided over by Atiqul Islam.
In the speech of the chief guest, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, ‘Police forces stand for hours on the road while performing their duties. If he needs to respond to the call of nature, he cannot go easily. Many women police or surgeons perform duties, they often face difficulties.’
He thanked the DNCC Mayor for constructing a policebox with modern facilities without blocking footpaths, keeping public movement normal. At this time, he also mentioned the construction of such aesthetic police boxes and public toilets in other places.
In the president’s speech, the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation said. Atiqul Islam thanked everyone who came and said, ‘Farmgate foot overbridge was one of the first foot overbridges constructed in Dhaka. But during the construction of the elevated expressway, it needs to be demolished and moved. Just removing it will not work. People have to make another alternative way. As an alternative to that, this modern and versatile foot overbridge has been constructed. But we had in mind that since there is a traditional building in the vicinity, it should be done in its style. So it has been done in conjunction with the Jatiya Sangsad Bhawan.’
At that time, he said to everyone present including the law and order forces, ‘The foot overbridge is here, but now we have to take care that no one sets up shops or hawkers on it. So that no one gets dirty. It is a common pedestrian road, so that no one can disturb it in any way.’
DNCC Mayor said, ‘Police boxes are needed on the streets for the police force. If you apply through DMP, we will make it subject to negotiation. I will do it in such a way that the pedestrians are not inconvenienced and the policemen are not inconvenienced either.’
He also requested that companies not policebox them unplanned as part of their advertising campaigns. He mentioned that it spoils the beauty of the city and causes visual pollution.
The chief executive officer of Dhaka North City Corporation gave a welcome speech at the opening ceremony conducted by Motakabbir Ahmed, regional executive officer of DNCC region-5. Salim Reza. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman also spoke as special guests. Shamim Hasan, councilor of ward number 26 and Hamida Akhter Mitu, woman councilor of reserved seat 10, spoke at this time.
It should be noted that the master plan of Sherebangla Nagar by the architect Louis I Kahn started from this Farmgate intersection. The design is inspired by his architectural practice. Bangladesh Bridge Authority paid for its construction. This 206-feet long and 21-feet wide foot overbridge with escalator facilities will be covered by round-the-clock city cameras. After the inauguration of the footover bridge, the modern police box built nearby was inaugurated.
