Hatirjheel

Hatirjheel হাতিরঝিল
Public Transportation
A beautiful view of the second bridge of Hatirjheel
Map of Hatirjheel and its surrounding areas
Coordinates: 23°44′58.47″N 90°23′48.35″W / 23.7495750°N 90.3967639°W / 23.7495750; -90.3967639
Country	Bangladesh
Inaugurated in	January 2, 2013
Founded by	Sheikh Hasina
Area
• Total	122 ha (302 acres)

Hatirjheel at Night

Bridges in Hatirjheel

Hatirjheel (Bengali: হাতিরঝিল; Bengali pronunciation: [ɦat̪ir dʒʱil], English /ˈhɑːtiːˌdʒhɪl/; also known as Hatirjheel-Begunbari) is a lakefront in Dhaka, Bangladesh that has been transformed into transportation hub to minimize traffic congestion.^[1]

The area was constructed under Bangladesh Army and 'Special Works Organization' (SWO). It is a popular recreational spot for residents of Dhaka and currently undergoing renovation.^[2]

Description

Building the entire site cost 19.71 billion (19710 million) taka in an area of 302 acres.^[3] In it 10.48 billion (10480 million) taka was spent in having the site. RAJUK has 46% of the area which includes an area of 81 acres to court of walks, 141 acres for public lands and 1 acre for BTV. The project first permitted in October 2007. The project was said to be finished in three years time (in June 2010), but the construction began in December 2008. It took further half year time for expanding it. The total money to create the project included the money of RAJUK (1113.7 billion taka), LGED (2760 million) and WASA (866.95 million).^[4]

During dry reason, the Hatirjheel lake can hold approximately 3.06 billion liter of water. During the rainy season, the lake can hold approximately 4.81 billion liter of water. This makes Hatirjheel lake the largest water body inside the capital of Bangladesh.^[5]

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 / 23.7495750°N 90.3967639°E / 23.7495750; 90.3967639.^[6] 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. The location of Hatirjheel is perfect for the transportation system.

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. As 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.

Gallery

• 

  Hatirjheel view

• 

  Hatirjheel view

• 

  Hatirjheel view

• 

  Hatirjheel, 2nd-bridge

• 

  Hatirjheel, 2nd-bridge

• 

  Hatirjheel, 2nd-bridge

• 

  Street of Hatirjheel & 2nd-bridge

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hatirjheel.

• Map - Wikimapia
• Map - Google Maps
• Photos - Bengalpix
• Hatirjheel project opened to public - bdnews24.com

Coordinates: 23°44′58.47″N 90°23′48.35″E / 23.7495750°N 90.3967639°E / 23.7495750; 90.3967639