High Court Building Dhaka
This building was constructed after the Curzon Hall. It is situated on the south-eastern side of Ramna Race Course, and lies in the middle of a spacious compound, to which a monumental arched gateway gives an access. Originally, it was meant to be a Government House, and hence the road, going in its front, came to be known as Government House Road, but after its completion, the then consulting architect of Government of India did not consider it worth the residence of the Governor. For long it was used as an office, and later Dhaka Intermediate College was housed in it. The High court will now have a new building in front of the Secretariat and this area has been earmarked for a museum and public library. [This, however, never happened, and the building is now being used as ancillary offices of the adjacent High Court and Supreme Courts.]
In style it is a Renaissance building, rather lacking in breadth. However, the frontage is remarkably appealing with its prominent porch below a triangular pediment over Corinthian columns above, and on the top a crowning dome resting on columns and piers in a circle – all the three ranging in three stages while the perfect symmetry and proportion of the sides, together with richness in detail, clearly provide a contrast and variety in forms. There is no dearth of architectural elements, which have all been selected from the Classical Buildings as are generally to be found in Renaissance period, and these have been well set, but the interior lacks in breadth. The building is completely European in taste and spirit.
