The General Administration and Inspection Service of the Municipality of Stari Grad has determined that the current situation within Gazi Husrev-beg’s bezistan is completely unacceptable, both from an aesthetic and a practical, functional aspect. The interior of Bezistan is unacceptable for the ambience of the National Monument and Baščaršija itself with numerous inappropriate contents in front of business premises (photos attached). It is unacceptable for a national monument to look like a flea market.
In addition, the area in front of the business premises in Gazi Husrev-beg’s bezistan is a public area exclusively intended for the unobstructed passage of pedestrians, which is very intense at this location. By placing sales tables, stands and other easily portable units in front of business premises, pedestrian flow is almost completely prevented, more precisely, pedestrians are forced to pass between the installed facilities.
Due to all the above, and in order to preserve the dignity of this National Monument and ensure the functionality of the public area (pedestrian passage), the Municipality of Stari Grad has taken the necessary measures.
On Wednesday, June 30, the mayor Ibrahim Hadžibajrić and his assistants held a meeting with the representatives of the users of business premises from Bezistan, at which all the above was presented to them.
“In order to find a compromise solution that will not be to the detriment of citizens and users, it was decided that in the future every user of business space in Gazi Husrev-beg’s bezistan will be able to use the public area in front of the space, maximum ½ meters in front. Users are familiar with this decision. The competent Municipal Service for Investments and Communal Affairs has so far received 30 requests from users for approval of the use of public space in this way, which are already in the process,” said the representatives of the Municipality.
The General Administration and Inspection Service will continue to carry out continuous supervision, both in Gazi Husrev-beg’s bezistan and in other locations, and prevent any illegal occupation of public space.
Gazi Husrev-beg’s bezistan is a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina built in 1555 as part of the Gazi Husrev-beg endowment. The Municipality of Stari Grad, but also the society as a whole have an obligation to preserve and maintain the dignity of cultural and historical monuments and our heritage, culture and traditions, they note.
