CJ’s residence protected antiquity site

City Desk :

The Archaeology Department has initiated the process to declare the historic residence of Bangladesh’s Chief Justice, located at 19 Hare Road in Kakrail, Dhaka, as a protected antiquity site. The building, over 100 years old, holds significant historical value, according to a press release issued by the Supreme Court administration on Thursday.
The move comes in the wake of damage to the residence during the student-led uprising on August 5, which led current Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed to take measures to safeguard the building for future generations, reports UNB.
Recognizing the historical importance of the residence, the Chief Justice stressed the need to ensure the building’s permanent protection within Bangladesh’s existing legal framework. As a result, the Archaeology Department will apply the Antiquities Act of 1968 to preserve ownership and usage rights of the building under the Supreme Court while formally recognizing it as a national asset.
A special meeting, chaired by the Chief Justice, was held on September 25 at the residence, where key decisions were made regarding its preservation. Attendees included the Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Sabina Alam, along with regional directors from Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions, and senior officials from the Supreme Court and Archaeology Department.
Following the meeting, the Supreme Court issued a letter to the Director General of the Archaeology Department on October 6, directing the department to take necessary measures to implement the meeting’s decisions. In response, the Archaeology Department has begun the process to declare the residence a protected antiquity site. On October 9, Deputy Director Md. Amiruzzaman instructed regional officials from Dhaka and Mymensingh to conduct an on-site inspection of the residence and submit a detailed, illustrated report.
Built in 1908, the residence of the Chief Justice is one of several government officials’ residences constructed after the partition of Bengal in 1905, when Dhaka became the capital of the newly formed province of East Bengal and Assam.
The building, which blends Mughal and European classical architectural styles, has been used for various purposes over the years, but since the early 1950s, it has served as the official residence of the Chief Justice.
Declaring the residence a protected antiquity site would ensure its preservation and highlight its historical importance for future generations. The building’s architectural and cultural legacy will be safeguarded, helping to raise public awareness of its rich history and significance.