Editorial
Renovate Ctg court building
It poses risk to users
The more than century-old court building at Chittagong continues to be in a dilapidated condition despite the fact that renovation works began a year ago. Nothing has also been done to construct another building planned for the premises. Apparently, the authorities have already cancelled the concerned contractor's work orders on the ground that the scheduled one year period as stipulated in the contract had expired in 2005. As a result, the half-demolished building has become prone to accident.
The structure built at hill top as early as in 1892 is used by as many as 5000 judges, magistrates, lawyers court officials, let alone 10,000 litigants. It is important to remember that judges do require court premises that are safe and secure, structurally, in order to be able to give their fullest in dispensation of justice rather than be distracted by fault-lines.
Chittagong is our second most important metropolitan city besides being our major port city. The importance of befitting court premises here is indisputable.
A court building as old as that is also a symbol of a nation's heritage and legacy. This building in particular bears a special significance as part of our architectural heritage. In a survey conducted by BUET as early as in 2002 there was a recommendation for conservation of the old building. What steps have since been taken to do up the building is a question that begs an answer.
We urge the government and its related agencies to resume work on the building in real earnest. Let us cut back on bureaucratic red tape and save the Chittagong court building expeditiously.
In the meantime, we also recommend that those found negligent in attending to this vital task be held to account. In one word, we seek an adviser-level intervention to get things moving.
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