Center for Khulna

• Name: Khalid Bin Kabir
• Year: 2012
• Studio: Final Year Thesis Project
• University: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Civic & Cultural Hub

• Location: Khulna, Bangladesh
• Area: 32,026 m²
• Land Extent: 68.5 acres
• Client: Ministry of Cultural Affairs Bangladesh

By 1882 Khulna was declared a district and by 1884 railway line was established linking Khulna and Kolkata. But the history of Khulna begins way back in the early British period when the established their reign in this area for the purpose of cultivating indigo. Indigo cultivation started some place close to Khulna called Rupdia in Jessore. For maintaining authorities over that event, the British established their first real address by the bank of Bhairav river. Development carried on centering that place and soon a bazar/market called “Boro Bazar” with settlement around it grew. The river Bhairav was the heart of all activities. Slowly the city grew step by step facing the Bhairav. Bhairav was like a mother who gave birth to the Khulna city.

What happened to that Khulna city in years to come is a different story. In came the Pakistani’s when the British left and then after 1971 the city belonged to Bangladesh. The city grew significantly during all these times. The modern city is full of people and full of places within places. Khulna grew on the bank of Bhairav and further towards the west. One thing changed during this development which is shocking. The city almost forgot the Bhairav that once gave birth to her. All modern developments back the Bhairav instead of facing her.

“Center for Khulna” will be a project for the city reviving her glorious past and re-linking her again with the river through cultural activities. This project will link up all the existing cultural dots and make them a nucleus that will reconnect the river to the city. It will develop the “Green Waterfront” for the city people. It will revolutionize the network of civic attractions. Improved connectivity will link the site to a large network of spaces and major attractions in the city.

“Center for Khulna” will be understood as a city-to-river extension of the culture mile

This presentation will guide one through the brief history behind the being of modern Khulna city and then the importance of the site and finally every bit of detail of this project.