Portraits of three more eminent personalities have been featured on the sidewalk wall adjacent to the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Segunbagicha, capital. Newly painted are the portraits of Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, the pioneer of women's awakening, Palli Kabi Jasimuddin, and poet Jibanananda Das. As part of an initiative to enhance the beauty of the sidewalk, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) painted these portraits yesterday, Tuesday.
Previously, portraits of 10 prominent figures who contributed to art, literature, and culture, including Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and Satyajit Ray, were painted on that wall. With the addition of the new three, the wall is now adorned with portraits of even more eminent personalities.
DSCC Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Mahbubur Rahman Talukdar said on Wednesday afternoon that they have plans to paint portraits of more prominent figures. Several walls have also been designated for this purpose, and work will begin there soon.
Explaining the reason for removing Sanjib Chowdhury's portrait, he stated that there is a significant generational gap between Sanjib Chowdhury and those whose portraits are currently on the wall. In addition, many have questioned the absence of portraits of Ayub Bachchu and Azam Khan. The DSCC is also thinking about representatives of the younger generation, with plans to paint their portraits on walls in university campus areas.
Meanwhile, not only have portraits been painted on the wall, but the sidewalk has also been renovated to make pedestrian movement more comfortable. Dustbins and benches have been installed there, and the boundary wall has been repaired. A portion of the sidewalk was previously encroached upon. After liberating it from occupation, the DSCC began working on improving the environment and beauty of the area.
On October 5, DSCC Administrator Md. Abdus Salam inaugurated the beautification activities of the sidewalk. At that time, he stated that hawkers would not be allowed to occupy the capital's roads and sidewalks. However, he also mentioned that considering the livelihood of the hawkers, arrangements have been made for them to sit in alternative locations.
