2. Contents
1.History of Sylhet
2.Topography of sylhet
3. Climatic Situation & Temperature
4.Site History
5.Location
6. Road Network
7.Significant structure
8. Land Use
9.Site Connectivity Network &
Accessibility
10. Site Surroundings
11. Site Analysis
12.Central Jail 3D view
13.Site Photographs/Current
condition
14.Swot Analysis
15.Public Desire
16.Proposal of city corporation
17.Case studies
3. Sylhet is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is located on
the bank of river Surma and the district consists of 12 Upazilas and
5 Pourashavas and 105 unions with the city as Municipality .
Sylhet is one of the oldest city in Bangladesh having a vast
historical and cultural background and diversified inhabitants of
Garo , Khasia, Monipuri and,Hazong. The district is surrounded by
the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills. The city has a population of
500,000 people having a high population density. It is one of the
largest cities in Bangladesh. Sylhet region is well known for its tea
gardens and tropical forests. Sylhet has a history of conquests and
heritage from different types of cultures. The city is described as a
City of Saints, with the mausoleum of the great saint Hazrat Shah
Jalal, who brought Islam to Bengal during the 14th century, being
located here. During the next few centuries it was part of the state
of Assam during the rule of British India after independence
between India and Pakistan, Sylhet was then part of East Pakistan
based on a referendum, and is part of Bangladesh as of today,
which also played a major role in the Bangladesh Liberation War
during the 1971s. It is also a holy place where more than 360
"Olee" lying in peace. Most of its population is muslims with a
percentage of 90. There are around 7% hindu, 0.07 % Budda, and
others are 0.5 %.
History
4. The Holy and famous shrine of Hazarat Shajalal (R), and
Hazrat Shaparan (R) are located at heart of the Sylhet
city. People from every parts of the country visit these
holy places every year. Sylhet is also famous for its
some historical establishments which includes Kin
Bridge, Watch of Ali AMZAD, Sarada Smrity Hall, Zitu
Miar Bari, Jointa Raj Bari, Jainta Ranir Gate, Monipuri
Museum, Osmani Museum, Hasan Raza’s Museum
and House of Chaittonnya DEV.It is a resourceful area
in the country having oil, gas, natural stone quaries,
tea estates. Agriculture is another influential issue
which includes 288000 hectares of fertile plane land
fertile by river Surma, Koshiara, Sari, and Piain. In the
ancient and early medieval period, Sylhet was ruled
primarily by local chieftains as viceroy of the kings of
Pragjyotishpur. There is evidence to suggest that the
Maharaja Sri Chandra, of northern Bengal, conquered
Bengal in the 10th century, although this is a much
disputed topic amongst Bangladeshi historians and
archaeologists.
Map of Sylhet
5. Sylhet was a focal point of East Pakistan's
Liberation War, which created the Bangladeshi
Republic. It was the hometown of General
Muhammad Ataul Ghani Osmani, the Commander
of Bangladesh Forces. The Battle of Sylhet raged
between the Pakistani military and Bangladesh-
India Allied Forces from 7 to 15 December 1971,
eventually leading to a Pakistani surrender and the
liberation of Sylhet.
In 1995, the Government of Bangladesh declared
Sylhet as the sixth divisional headquarters of the
country. Sylhet has played a vital role in the
Bangladeshi economy. Several of Bangladesh's
finance ministers have been Members of Parliament
from the city of Sylhet. Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran
was a longtime mayor of Sylhet. Humayun Rashid
Choudhury, a diplomat from Sylhet, served as
President of the UN General Assembly and Speaker
of the Bangladesh National Parliament.
In 2001, the municipality was upgraded to the
Sylhet City Corporation. It was made a metropolitan
city in 2009.
Central Shaheed Minar
Central Shaheed Minar
6.
7. Administration Sylhet Division was formed on 1 August 1995. Sylhet City Corporation was formed
comprising 27 wards in 2002
8. sylhet is abundant in hillocks , open fields brooks canals , ponds ,lakes and has the
surma river ; besides these , sylhet has plenty old fashioned houses and stalls .
Maintaining these typology stores ,restaurants and cafes can be envisioned to bring
about by the river . Fully residing in the old fashioned houses , top floors could stand as
office spaces while the ground floors can be restaurant or cafes . The open spaces can
have varied clusters
Sylhet and its abundance
9. Culture & Literature
Given its unique cultural and economic
development, and linguistic differences
(Greater Sylhet region was a part of
Assam and Surma Valley State for much of
the British Raj in comparison to the rest of
Bangladesh), and given that Sylhet has,
for most of its recent history, been a
region of a larger entity. As so many
Sylhetis are resident abroad, Sylhet has a
major flow of foreign currency from non-
resident Bangladeshis. M. A. G. Osmani
was the commander-in-chief of the
Bangladesh Forces during the Bangladesh
Liberation War, and Saifur Rahman, was
the first politician from Sylhet to be a
member of the cabinet in the
government.
10. Sylhet has also influenced much of the music
in Bangladesh, notable legends include Hason
Raja and Shah Abdul Karim who have
produced Bangladeshi folk music. Sylheti
attachment to their regional identity also
continues in the efforts of many Sylhetis to
keep marital relationships within the same
regional cultural background. Sylheti people
are considered as a distinct ethnic group in
Bangladesh; this is mainly because of language
differences between the standard Bangla
language, and the Sylheti language and they
are fiercely protective of their language. There
are also many cultural and customary
differences between Bengalis and Sylhetis.
Many Sylhetis only marry within the Sylheti-
speaking community,
11. Language (Sylheti Nagari)
Origin
The specific origin of Sylheti Nagari is debated. The general hypothesis is the Muslims of
Sylhet were the ones to invent it Suniti kumar chatterji , however, is of the opinion
that Shah Jalal brought the script with him when he arrived in the area in the thirteenth or
fourteenth century. The bulk of text written in Sylheti Nagari being influenced
by sufism seems to support this hypothesis. On the other hand, according to Ahmed hasan
dani it was the Afgans living in Sylhet during the Afghan rule who invented the script, since
some of Sylheti Nagari's letters resemble the symbols on Afghan coins, and there were a
large number of Afghans living in Sylhet at that time. Other less-supported hypotheses are:
Since the people of Sylhet were familiar with the Devanagari script, they fashioned
Sylheti Nagari after it;
The script was invented by immigrant Bhikkhus from neighboring countries such as Nepal
The script could have been invented in the seventeenth—eighteenth century to facilitate
the Muslim Sepoys coming from the joint state of Bihar and immigrant Muslims;
A folk belief is that a Muslim invented the script from Bengali writing system for the
purpose of mass education
13. Population Total ,male 50.67%, female
49.33%; Muslim 81%, Hindu 17.80%,
Buddhist 0.02%, Christian 0.06% and
others 1.12%.
Water bodies Main rivers: surma,
kushiyara, Khoai, manu.
Capital Sylhet
Area
• Total 12,298.4 km
2
(4,7
48.4 sq mi)
Population (2016)
• Total 12,102,325
• Density 980/km
2
(2,500/s
q mi)
14. shrine of Hazarat Shajalal (R)
Monipuri Museum
Jointa Raj Bari
Hason Razar Bari
Historical places of Sylhet :
15. Historical places of Sylhet :
Shahi Eid Gah Sylhet
Kin bridge Sylhet
Ali Amzads WatchOsmani Meuseum
16. Topography of Sylhet
Topography of Sylhet is hilly
Hills contour and valleys can be see from
the size
Previously the site had 8.22 contours. But
during the establishment of human
settlement this characteristic is almost
gine from this heart of the sylhet city .
The total flat land is 288000
17. Climate data for Sylhet, Bangladesh
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average
high °C
(°F)
25.2
(77.4)
27.1
(80.8)
30.4
(86.7)
30.8
(87.4)
30.8
(87.4)
30.9
(87.6)
30.9
(87.6)
31.6
(88.9)
31.2
(88.2)
30.9
(87.6)
29.2
(84.6)
26.3
(79.3)
29.6
(85.3)
Average
low °C
(°F)
12.9
(55.2)
14.2
(57.6)
18.1
(64.6)
20.8
(69.4)
22.6
(72.7)
24.4
(75.9)
24.9
(76.8)
25.0
(77.0)
24.3
(75.7)
22.5
(72.5)
18.4
(65.1)
14.0
(57.2)
20.2
(68.4)
Average
rainfall
mm
(inches)
8
(0.3)
31
(1.2)
146
(5.7)
372
(14.6)
569
(22.4)
796
(31.3)
834
(32.8)
621
(24.4)
548
(21.6)
232
(9.1)
30
(1.2)
13
(0.5)
4,200
(165.1)
Climate data for Sylhet, Bangladesh
18. The collector William John took the initiative for setting up
Sylhet Central Jail and it was constructed at its present site in
1789 at a cost of one lakh Rs.
The jail, once served for the Sylhet-Assam region, was
constructed on 25 acres of land for 1200 jail mates. A number
of death sentences were carried out while veteran political
leaders stayed at the jail on occasions during British, Pakistan
and Bangladesh rule. In 1966
4th April during “ছয় দফা আন্দালন” he was arrested for 3
days in this jail . In 1997 The Sylhet jail declared as a Sylhet
central jail . The first female gallows bird was overhang in the
Scaffold of this Jail.
Neighbouring people suffer a lot as the existing jail stands in the heart of
the city. Sometimes it becomes a tough task to transport the jail mates to
and from the court in time everyday.
The present 2800-capacity jail accommodates about 8000 inmates. Tender
for the construction work of the new jail is in the process, said Deputy
jailer Nesar Ahmed.
Site History
19. Jail Complex can become a civic place
The old Jail complex has a great potential of being converted into sylhet’s most
attractive public place.After the scheduled relocation of the present jail to a
new area,the present jail complex building and spaces,and adjoining areas,can
become a lively public place with parks,ponds,gardens cultural facilities,and a
new theater or convention complex.The whole environment can be given over
to pedistrians.Selected old buildings can be preserved for use as art and music
schools and other facilities.The main Jail building can be transformed into a
museum and gallery.
31. Site surroundings
Hospital
Boundary Wall
The Height of the Inner
Wall is 22 ft
Road side Wall Height is
18’
It constructed in 1789
This Hospital is now
abanded.
This is the most old
hospital in jail.
33. Garbage System
There is no proper garbage
system.
They store the dust in the open
space .
They reserved the dust in the
dhopadighi near the central jail.
34. Drainage
They has no proper drainage
system.
The waste water of the site is fallen
into the dhopadighi.
52. SWOT Analysis
Strength:
Its on a prime and
expensive location
Well Road Connection
along the periphery of the
site
Weakness:
Less Varieties of
building usages
regrading the
revenue income.
Scarcity of green
space.
No service road.
Heavy traffic flow.
53. Opportunities:
New functions will
added extra public
interest in the project &
make it more lively.
Introducing new
functions will be useful
to level up the revenue
income.
With enhancing the
beauty of the nodal
point become more
lively.
Threats:
Because of the high
traffic flow it is difficult
to create a public realm
at the nodal point .
It is difficult to design
the entry & exit.
SWOT Analysis
54.
55. Recreational Spaces of Sylhet
Ognishikha,Rikabi bazar
Shahi Eid gah
Kin bridge
kazir bazar bridge
56. Public Desire:
In this region there
is no public
gathering space.
Public Want this site
as a recreational
space.
In this sylhet city
there is no
sufficient
recreational spaces
for the people.
57.
58.
59.
60. Sylhet City is the main urban centre
of Sylhet district as well as the
Sylhet division of Bangladesh. The
old Central Jail is more than 200
years old, and was the first jail in
Bangladesh. Since its inception in
1889, it has great significance due
to its core geographical location
with heritage value and as an
urban space. After the relocation of
central jail, the vacant land left
behind, created a great
opportunity for the city dwellers,
by enhancing the quality of
urban/civic life. Sylhet City
Corporation (SCC) planned to
create an urban park by
demolishing all the historic
buildings in the area.
Proposal of Sylhet city corporation
62. Pudu Jail Conservation Statement
Pudu Jail, once Malaysia’s grand dame of penitentiary, currently faces possible redundancy and demolishment. This
conservation statement is the first step in addressing these issues and will be used to support and initiate further
listing application and consultation. It sets out Pudu Jail’s heritage attributes and looks into its protection while
allowing appropriate development.
The walled prison, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, has witnessed the city’s growth since 1895. Its integral role
was when it was used as a P.O.W camp centre during the Japanese Occupation. Pudu Jail is of value for its colonial
architectural design and its survival into modern Kuala Lumpur’s cityscape.
Threats to Pudu Jail’s further existence includes Malaysia’s present statutory and legislation, disputes on suitable
use, pressures of high real estate value, lack of public awareness, surrounding development and poor maintenance
and upgrading works.
The suggested conservation principles identifies the
need for cooperation between public and private
bodies,better informed management, raising
awareness, public participation, monitoring of
potential threats and market research for potential
use.
A successful transformation of Pudu Jail from a
building synonym with incarceration and punishment
into a new exciting quarter of national importance
for Kuala Lumpur will mark a significant chapter in
Malaysia’s heritage conservation history.
63. Background of Pudu Jail
Pudu Jail’s Front Gate
Pudu Jail is Malaysia’s second oldest prison located in the
commercial Pudu District of central Kuala Lumpur. Built in
1895 by the British administration of Malaya, this
historical landmark sprawls over 7.8 hectares at the
junction of Hang Tuah Road and Pudu Road. Its
surrounding development includes integrated train
services, shopping complexes, apartments, hotels and
high rise offices.
Pudu Jail’s location in Kuala Lumpur
64. East view of Pudu Jail in the context of its surrounding development
Currently, Pudu Jail serves as
Hang Tuah Police Station, a
temporary drug addict hold up
centre. In 2006, the Federal
Territory Administration will
return the land to its owner,
Uda Holdings Berhad. The
company plans to develop the
site into series of hotels, retails,
offices and apartments known as
the Bukit Bintang City Centre
Kuala Lumpur’s Structure Plan
2020 (paragraph 811)
recommends Pudu Jail to be
developed as a high density
residential development
incorporating service apartments
and a neighbourhood park. It is
noted that no intentions to
conserve the prison are
mentioned.
65. There are no existing management plans or policies associated to Pudu Jail known to the author. Measured drawings
of the prison have been carried out by architectural students of Malaya University (1990) and International Islamic
University Malaysia (2004). At present, The Malaysian Antiquity Department is analyzing the prison’s heritage value
This paper covers the evolvement of Pudu Jail’s main buildings, its compound and prison
walls. Unfortunately, specific records on the prison prior to Independence are almost
non-existent. Most documents were brought to England by the British or disappeared during the Japanese
Occupation2. Information on the prison’s recent upgrade in 2004 is inaccessible due to the tight security of it being
a new police station.
66. History of Pudu Jail
Pudu Jail’s front gate in 1896.
Author’s sketch of Pudu Jail’s location in 1900.
Pudu Jail’s construction began in 1891 and was
completed in 1895. It was designed by
Charles Edwin Spooner, the state engineer and
director of Public Works Department to
fit 950 inmates. At the cost of RM 138 000 ($320
000), the prison was built in six phases using steel,
brick and cement, all imported from British
colonies4. Built in a jungle
clearance named Pudu Village (south east of old
Kuala Lumpur), the prison’s location
seemed ideal during that period, being conveniently
close to the city but not close enough
to be a threat. Surrounding the prison walls were
rows of shop-houses and residential of
police and prison officers.
67. Pudu Jail in early 20th century
The main prison structure is the Cell Block.
Built to the shape of St. Andrew’s cross, it is
a massive three storey stone and concrete
building housing cells and gallows. The Cell
Block has a narrow open courtyard in the
centre where whippings took place. The
courtyard was a gathering space that served
lighting and ventilation purposes
A sketch of Pudu Jail’s early layout
The front gate depicts Moorish architecture in its
two domed towers6. It led to a two
storied building known as the Administrative Block
with a separate female prison and
prison kitchen on each side. A prison hospital was to
the east, separated from the main building
68. On the architecture of Pudu Jail:
A relic of the Victorian period, Pudu Jail’s architecture is strongly influenced by British colonial prison structure and design which
emphasizes security and manual operation. The butterfly form of the Cell Block is the key architectural asset, hidden from the view of
polite society for a century. The building’s bare design and minimal details strengthens its architectural impact as a prison.
Charles Edwin Spooner, then state engineer and director of Public Works Department, produced a prison design that was suitable to the
local climate and culture, which was apparent in the use of courtyards, jack-roofs, large overhangs and the Moorish front gate.
Pudu Jail’s Administrative Block (1946)
During its early years, Pudu Jail was used by the British as an
army command centre.
Those who fought against the British were executed, either by a
firing squad or by
hanging, and buried on prison grounds to prevent news about
the executions from going beyond Pudu Prison walls8.
The prison became the central prisoners of war (P.O.W) camp in
Malaya during the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945). Many
members of the Allied Forces and locals were tortured and
beheaded on prison grounds, some heads stuck to polls for all to
see. They were believed to be buried around the hospital and behind
the laundry workshop area9. Sweet potatoes were planted by the
P.O.Ws on the prison grounds for food. There was also a chapel
created from a cell by a prisoner named Padre Noel Duckworth to
hold Sunday services
Sweet potatoes planted on the prison grounds (1946)
69. On Malaysia’s existing legislation regarding historical buildings:
Layout of detained P.O.W’s cells during World War 2.
Malaysia’s present legislation on historic buildings is
not sufficient and suitable to protect Pudu Jail from
demolition. Presently, there are 4 acts and
enactments showing aspects of building
conservation, namely Antiquities Act (1976), Johore
Enactment (1988), Malacca Enactment 1988 and
Rent Control Act (1966, revised 1988).
The Antiquities Act 1976 states that a historic
building or monument aged at least 100 years old
can be listed or gazetted through the Museum
Department. At the age of 107, there have been no
attempts to list Pudu Jail as a protected building. The
City Council is not pro of its survival, making the
future of Pudu Jail rather bleak unless this matter is
addressed right away.
70. Aerial view of Pudu Jail in modern day Kuala Lumpur (2006)
a
b
c
d
e
f
71. Case Studies Findings
The starts from 1891 & end in 1895
The Designer was Charles Edwin
Spooner. He was a state Engineer &
Director of Public work Dept.
The total cost was RM 138000.
The site area is 7.8 hectares.
The built material is- stone,
concrete, cement
It is built as colonial & Moorish
architectural style.
The courtyard is uses as open &
buffering space
In this front gate it has two dome
which is represent the Moorish
Architecture
This Jail is Designed to respect the
Local Climate & Culture
Now a days this used as a
Preserved area & Heritage Site
Measured drawings of the prison
have been carried out by
architectural students of Malaya
University (1990) and International
Islamic University Malaysia (2004).
At present, The Malaysian Antiquity
Department is analyzing the prison’s
heritage value.
It is the second oldest prison in
Malaysia
The surrounding development
includes integrated train service,
Shopping
Complex,Apartment,Hotel,High Rise
Office etc.
