Architecture and Archeology

The magic of 10% economic growth suggests that the real income of an average citizen can double every decade into the foreseeable future. The primary obstacle to long run sustained growth in Bangladesh is land allocation. This monograph builds on the thoughts of many earlier Bangladeshi’s and proposes a concrete way of solving the current impasse. The proposal is called Compact Townships and seeks to build small, yet economic and ecologically sound, urban islands in rural Bangladesh.

The area around the present small township of Bagerhat, known in the Middle Ages as the Mosque-city of Khalifatabad, seems to have been an unfriendly tract in the remote past to attract urban habitation. In view of its location near the sea coast of the Bay of Bengal, densely wooded with low mangrove forest and its attending hazards, it has always been a relatively negative tract in the population map as long as the sea and the forest were close.

Located picturesquely in a peaceful island village of Kantanagar in Dinajpur District of Bangladesh, this splendid brick temple has gained eminence as an outstanding 18th century monument in the sub-continent for its fabulous terracotta adornment. Apart from its architectural excellence, it exhibits an exuberance of a mature terracotta art at its best in Bengal.

A vast majority of concrete design and construction today uses Grade 420 (420 MPa 60 ksi) steel, wit increasing use of Grade 500 (500 MPa, 72.5 ksi). Market forces and construction efficiencies promote the use of higher yield strength longitudinal reinforcement (for example, Grade 500). This reinforcement performs suitably if the elongation and stress requirements match those mentioned in different codes. Presently, Grade 500 (500MPa, 72.5 ksi) steel is available for concrete construction in Bangladesh.