The proposed research will argue that how the conception of ‘nation-building’ is intertwined with the modern architectural endeavours in East Pakistan (now known as Bangladesh) during the cold war period between 1947 and 1971. It will unravel the consciousness of nationalism by analysing a series of public buildings which was built in the course of geo-political resistance after the India-Pakistan partition in the postcolonial epoch. The study will explore the key architectural transitions that helped creating a coherent and contextual relationship between postcolonial modernisation and nation-building.
The architectural movement not only depicts the spatial transformation during the resistance but also presents a narrative of awakening from the supremacy. In an attempt to gain control in the Eastern part, the ruling Government of Pakistan sought to appease the subaltern populace by developing the province. These development schemes brought architectural opportunities for both foreign and local architects to explore Modernism within a postcolonial network. Being aware of the paradoxical situation of the region, the architects took full credibility to explore the rooted ethnicity of Bengal and amalgamate Modernity in their design and regional planning. Thus, the research methodology will cover other sub-discipline in relation to establish a connection between ethnicity, nationalism and architecture. Additionally, the research elicits evidence from the National Archive, the Liberation War Museum, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Department in Bangladesh, published literature and documents after the Independence (1971), interviews with architects and site visits to demonstrate the infrastructures within a wider field of resources.
The topic has been untouched by critical analysis and thought, thus it unlocks a wider possibility for new research in the history of Bangladeshi architecture. This thesis will also contribute to the literary sectors on modern architecture globally.
