National Assembly Bangladesh (Jatio Shangshad)

National assembly of Bangladesh is known as Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban. This is one of the largest legislative complexes in the world where all parliamentary activities occur of Bangladesh.

National Assembly Bangladesh (Jatio Shangshad)

Twentieth century’s one of the greatest architectural monument, Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban, designed by American architect Louis I Kahn & Muzharul Islam was co-architect. This construction started in 1961 & completed on 1982, cost of $32 million. It was officially inaugurated at 28 January 1982. Total area of this wonder is 200 acres (800,000 m²)
Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban is built on 200 acres of area, located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. It is bounded by four major streets. Lake Road to the north, Rokeya Sharoni to the east, Manik Mia Avenue to the south & Mirpur road to the west.

The main building divides into three parts named the Main plaza, South plaza & Presidential plaza. The Bhaban consists of nine individual blocks. Among these eight are 110 ft of height & other one is 155 ft. All the blocks are inter-related horizontally & vertically by corridors, lift, stairs, light courts & circular areas. The main committee rooms are located at level two. All parliamentary functionaries, including ministers & chairpersons of the standing committees have office in the Bhaban.

The most important part of the MAIN PLAZA is the parliament chamber. There also have two podiums, two galleries for visitors, a library, MP’s lounges & party room. The efficient & aesthetic use of light reflected from the surrounding wall was a strong architectural capacity of Louis I Kahn. The South plaza contains controlling gates, a driveway, main mechanical plant room, car parking space, offices of maintenance engineers, equipment stores & an open plaza with steps & ramps leading directly to the main building. The Presidential plaza lies to the north & faces the lake road. It functions as an intimate plaza for the MP’s.

Assembly Hall

Kahn’s key design philosophy optimizes the use of space while representing Bangladeshi heritage & culture. In the assembly Louis I Kahn introduced a light giving element of the interior at the plan. A series of columns means the choice of columns is a choice in light. In reverse and think that the columns are hollow and much bigger and that their walls can themselves give light, then the voids are rooms, and the column is the maker of light and can take on complex shapes and be the supporter of spaces and give light to spaces. It is from not belief, not design, not pattern, but the essence from which an institution could emerge a poetic entity which has its own beauty outside of its place in the composition.

The Government communicated plans to “complete Louis Kahn’s plans” by constructing residences for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. According to some prominent architects, no such plan existed in the original design. Although the construction was started, it was halted and the issue is as of yet unresolved.