Hatirjheel

Description

Building the entire site required 19.71 billion (19,710 million) taka with an area of 302 acres. From this, 10.48 billion (10,480 million) taka was spent in acquiring the site. 46% of the area belongs to RAJUK, which includes an area of 81 acres for court of walks, 141 acres for public lands and 1 acre for BTV. The project was first permitted in October 2007, and was said to be completed within three years of time (until June 2010). But the construction began on December 2008, which took further half year of time for expanding it. The total money to create the project included the money of RAJUK (1,113.7 billion taka), LGED (2,760 million) and WASA (866.95 million).

During dry season, the Hatirjheel lake can hold approximately 3.06 billion liters of water, and during the rainy season about 4.81 billion liters of water. This makes Hatirjheel lake the largest water body inside the capital of Bangladesh.

The entire area of Hatirjheel is meticulously designed with about four main and four minor bridges (viaducts), and several overpasses (flyovers) and footbridges. There are sitting arrangements for pedestrians by the river-side. A lake flows through the heart of the project with a 16 km road surrounding it. Besides, it has a picturesque view, and people from all over the Bangladesh come to see the site. Bus service and boat rides are available, and facilities are there for small scale family picnics. At night, lights of different hues illuminate the entire Hatirjheel, especially on the bridges. The area has been delightfully decorated with flowering shrubs and trees. After its completion, the project became a place for the pleasure-seekers. As Dhaka is densely populated with people, and is occupied with numerous congested buildings, a suffocating environment results due to the shortage of fresh air; conveniently Hatirjheel comprises of a large open space that contains full of fresh air. Furthermore, Hatirjheel is considered to be one of the most notable places in Dhaka.

History

Legend has it that the elephants of Dhaka's Pilkhana used to take bath in these wetlands – there the name comes Hatirjheel.

Urban planner, architect Iqbal Habib, who heads the consultant firm of the Hatirjheel-Begunbari development project, said that the Bhawal Raja used to keep his tamed elephants at Pilkhana.

He said that the elephants were taken to the wetlands through the Elephant Road and Hatirpool.

Location

Hatirjheel is located at the centre of the capital city, Dhaka. It has a latitude of 23.7495747 and a longitude of 90.3967635. In other words, the Hatirjheel has a coordinate of 23°44′58.47″N 90°23′48.35″E. The place is surrounded by Tejgaon, Gulshan, Badda, Banasree, Niketon, Maghbazar etc., and it made the transportation of the people living near these areas much easier.

Inauguration

The Hatirjheel-Begunbari project was inaugurated in January 2, 2013 by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 11 o'clock at morning. Right before the inauguration, the Prime Minister had a look all around the Hatirjheel. The Hatirjheel project opened for the use of general people after the inauguration. The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, it was a new year gift to the people, while inaugurating the project on Wednesday.

On the occasion of the inauguration, Hatirjheel had been decorated with multi-coloured flowers and flattering flags of different hues. In the evening of the inaugural day, the city dwellers viewed a spectacular display of fireworks in the vicinity of the project. The Hatirjheel-Begunbari project stretches from Sonargaon Hotel all the way to Banasree.

Recreational values of Hatirjheel

Hatirjheel has turned into one of the most favorite recreational places in Dhaka for the city dwellers. Numerous tourists and pedestrians visit the site every evening to enjoy the reflection of light and to feel the fresh air. At afternoon people, especially couples, visit Hatirjheel for recreational purposes. As congested buildings permeate the most of Dhaka, leaving little open places for people to feel the fresh air, Hatirjheel attracts the city dwellers with its beauty and vastness of fresh air.