Kamalapur Railway Station
Encyclopedia
Kamalapur Railway Station is the central railway station in Dhaka
, Bangladesh
. It is the largest railway station of the country, however the most important terminal for communication between Dhaka and whole Bangladesh. It is also one of the most modern and striking buildings in Dhaka designed by American architect Robert Boughey
. Kamalapur railway station situated in the north-east side of Motijheel
.
. After the partition of Bengal
, Dhaka became one of the important cities. But when the station need to extended then it was planned to transfer to somewhere else and then Kamalapur was selected for extension. Once upon a time it used to be a paddy field
. At the starting of the 60’s this station was built. At that time it was one of the important establishment in the east Pakistan
. It was mesmerizing to people at that time as there was not so many beautiful structures in Dhaka. At that time consulting engineers Pakistan ltd established an architectural firm in Dhaka in 1960 named Berger Engineers in collaboration with the American firm Luis Berger Inc. Several architect
s working for them and teaching at East Pakistan University of Engineering and technology designed many institutional buildings up to 1967. An inconsistency can be traced in their work as of them had little knowledge and of them had little knowledge and experience of the local context, and often different architects were designing different architect building in the servre campus. Their works were comparatively national and neat. Among the Berger architects, Robert Bouighy maintained a consistency in architectural vocabulary, technical excellence and aesthetics in his creatives, concrete frame structures and its honest expression through ribbon window, non-load-bearing partition walls and cantilevered veranda as are some examples that characterised Bouigh’s design. An inter-marriage of spatial and structural innovation culminated in his outstanding designs of the Kamalapur railway station, which is remarkable for the open petal shaped canopy unifying a number of otherwise disjointed buildings an innovative expression through architectural forms.
who used to teach at BUET
when it opened the program in 1962. There are some 21 ticket counters and we can buy all local tickets from 20 ticket counters and we can even buy tickets to go to India
and its ticket counter is different. There are 2 waiting room
s and one for first class and another for second class passengers. There are 8 platforms and we can find 2 restaurants in front of the ticket counters and there are also some fast food
shops near the ticket counters. It was only a meter-gauge car serving station even one year back but now (from 2008) both meter-gauge and broad-gauge trains can operate from here.
s, station master
s and station manager. Every day there are thousands of people who come across the station and travel throughout the country. Usually we can use this trains to go to any part of the country except Borisal, Potuakhali. We can now also go to India direct from this station. The platforms always remain populated whether it is night or day. We will find people all the time and they all are seen in rush and hurry. We will come across so many pickpockets, beggars and hijackers at the station. In the night it is so difficult to move from here and there as there is a risk of our life. Though lots of guards, police and rabs are seen outside the station to control the situation but still there are some risks. In front of Kamalapur railway station, there is Pir Jongi’s Majar (a famous shrine). Kamalapur station looks very crowded during the time of train. Taxi
, auto rickshaw
, rickshaw, private car and many more vehicle are gathered in front of station. Centering on the Kamalapur Railway station, a huge floating market establish in this area. However there is small tea stall and small shops where the product which is necessary during journey are available. This open air markets generally available booklets, bread, mineral water, dry food, juice, t-shirt, napkins, cigarettes, etc. As there reality the station is the sleeping place for the homeless people. It is true there is floating prostitution
with high risk of AIDS
. However the station is playing important role in commerce of Motijheel area.
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. It is the largest railway station of the country, however the most important terminal for communication between Dhaka and whole Bangladesh. It is also one of the most modern and striking buildings in Dhaka designed by American architect Robert Boughey
Robert Boughey
Robert Boughey is an American architect born in Pennsylvania, USA. He completed his Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York in 1959 and received Diploma in Tropical Studies from AA School of Architecture, London in 1967...
. Kamalapur railway station situated in the north-east side of Motijheel
Motijheel
Motijheel is an administrative division of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. It is situated at the heart of the city . Motijheel is the major business and commercial hub of Dhaka city and has more offices and business institutions than any other part of the city...
.
History
There was only one railway station in Fulbaria, DhakaFulbaria Upazila
Fulbaria is an Upazila of Mymensingh District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh.-Geography:Fulbaria is located at . It has 68469 units of house hold and total area 402.41 km²....
. After the partition of Bengal
Partition of Bengal
Partition of Bengal may refer to the partition of the Bengal region during two separate occasions:*Partition of Bengal *Partition of Bengal...
, Dhaka became one of the important cities. But when the station need to extended then it was planned to transfer to somewhere else and then Kamalapur was selected for extension. Once upon a time it used to be a paddy field
Paddy field
A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...
. At the starting of the 60’s this station was built. At that time it was one of the important establishment in the east Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
. It was mesmerizing to people at that time as there was not so many beautiful structures in Dhaka. At that time consulting engineers Pakistan ltd established an architectural firm in Dhaka in 1960 named Berger Engineers in collaboration with the American firm Luis Berger Inc. Several architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s working for them and teaching at East Pakistan University of Engineering and technology designed many institutional buildings up to 1967. An inconsistency can be traced in their work as of them had little knowledge and of them had little knowledge and experience of the local context, and often different architects were designing different architect building in the servre campus. Their works were comparatively national and neat. Among the Berger architects, Robert Bouighy maintained a consistency in architectural vocabulary, technical excellence and aesthetics in his creatives, concrete frame structures and its honest expression through ribbon window, non-load-bearing partition walls and cantilevered veranda as are some examples that characterised Bouigh’s design. An inter-marriage of spatial and structural innovation culminated in his outstanding designs of the Kamalapur railway station, which is remarkable for the open petal shaped canopy unifying a number of otherwise disjointed buildings an innovative expression through architectural forms.
Architectural Value
Kamalapur railway station was built by Robet Bouighy and it reflects his own way of style. It is an architectural marvel with lotus-shaped shell structure covering the functional buildings like an umbrella and thus unifying all various spaces beneath it. Robert Boughey was among the five American professors of architectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
who used to teach at BUET
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET as it is commonly known, is a Public Engineering University in Bangladesh. It is the oldest Engineering institution in the region, and is regarded as the best university for technological education in Bangladesh...
when it opened the program in 1962. There are some 21 ticket counters and we can buy all local tickets from 20 ticket counters and we can even buy tickets to go to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and its ticket counter is different. There are 2 waiting room
Waiting room
A waiting room is a building, or more commonly a part of a building where people sit or stand until the event they are waiting for occurs.There are generally two types of waiting room. One is where individuals leave one at a time, for instance at a doctor's office or a hospital, or outside a school...
s and one for first class and another for second class passengers. There are 8 platforms and we can find 2 restaurants in front of the ticket counters and there are also some fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
shops near the ticket counters. It was only a meter-gauge car serving station even one year back but now (from 2008) both meter-gauge and broad-gauge trains can operate from here.
Present condition
When it was built it was maintained very carefully, but slowly time passed and it lost its previous condition. Every day it is like almost 50 trains allots from here to different cities in Bangladesh. There are 47 local trains, 28 express trains and 24 inter city trains. To help the general people there are lots of security guardSecurity guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
s, station master
Station master
The station master was the person in charge of railway stations, in the United Kingdom and some other countries, before the modern age. He would manage the other station employees and would have responsibility for safety and the efficient running of the station...
s and station manager. Every day there are thousands of people who come across the station and travel throughout the country. Usually we can use this trains to go to any part of the country except Borisal, Potuakhali. We can now also go to India direct from this station. The platforms always remain populated whether it is night or day. We will find people all the time and they all are seen in rush and hurry. We will come across so many pickpockets, beggars and hijackers at the station. In the night it is so difficult to move from here and there as there is a risk of our life. Though lots of guards, police and rabs are seen outside the station to control the situation but still there are some risks. In front of Kamalapur railway station, there is Pir Jongi’s Majar (a famous shrine). Kamalapur station looks very crowded during the time of train. Taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
, auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...
, rickshaw, private car and many more vehicle are gathered in front of station. Centering on the Kamalapur Railway station, a huge floating market establish in this area. However there is small tea stall and small shops where the product which is necessary during journey are available. This open air markets generally available booklets, bread, mineral water, dry food, juice, t-shirt, napkins, cigarettes, etc. As there reality the station is the sleeping place for the homeless people. It is true there is floating prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
with high risk of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. However the station is playing important role in commerce of Motijheel area.