Louis Kahn's National Assembly Building is one of the great modernist buildings of the 20th century and, without question, the most important piece of architecture in Bangladesh. Kahn received the commission in 1962, when the country was still East Pakistan, and the building was finally completed in 1982, eight years after his death. The main building is a massive, primal composition of concrete cylinders, triangles, and squares cut with geometric openings — Kahn described it as trying to capture "the quality of a monument."
The parliament chamber itself is closed to the public, but the surrounding complex — lawns, reflecting pools, and the Crescent Lake opposite — is a popular place for locals to walk, jog, and escape the city. Guided tours of the exterior are available; arrange in advance through the parliament secretariat.