Environmental activists, politicians, sports personalities and residents in Dhanmondi area yesterday termed the leaders of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club “outsiders” and “illegal occupants” of Dhanmondi playground.
They urged the Dhaka South City Corporation to form a management committee comprised of only local people for the playground.
The individuals also demanded demolition of all old and new structures, halt to all construction in the playground and withdrawal of false cases filed against the leaders of Dhanmondi Playground Protection Committee.
They made the demand at a rally held inside the playground yesterday.
The programme was moderated by Alamgir Kabir, coordinator of Green Voice, an environmental orgranisation.
Architect Mubasshar Hussain, former president of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh, said: “The city corporation clearly said the playground had not been allocated to any private club or person, but inside it, the club authority constructed structures, which are illegal.”
He claimed that Sheikh Jamal Club governing body chairman was the incumbent Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Benazir Ahmed.
Mubasshar said recently the club authority put an advertisement in different national dailies for the publicity of the club which was illegal.
How is it possible that a government high official is involved with such an illegal act? he posed a question.
“We are demanding an immediate resignation of the DMP commissioner from the illegal committee of the club’s governing body.”
He also noted that they went to the court to settle the dispute.
The High Court bench repeatedly felt “embarrassed” to hear a petition, seeking its directives to remove the structures built on the Dhanmondi playground, said Mubasshar.
“Our campaign would continue till making the playground free from the clutch of illegal occupants,” he said.
The architect alleged that the incumbent club authority was masterminding to split the playground into two parts.
“In one part, the club authority would like to establish its own rule like Ayub Khan.”
Mustafizur Rahman, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, said the playground was gradually falling into the hands of several land grabbers, thus forcing children in Dhanmondi to depend on computers only for their recreation.
“So we should protect the public playground from the occupation of the land grabbers.”
Expressing solidarity with the rally, veteran politician Pankaj Bhattacharya said: “The playground should be open for all because it is a public playground.”
He claimed that the activities of Dhanmondi Club authority were anti-constitutional and against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stand on the necessity of open space and children’s park.
Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan Joint Secretary Iqbal Habib said: “Our protest leader is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In 2000, she directed all authorities concerned to free all public playgrounds, open space, children’s parks and wet land from the grabbers. Now we are just following the PM’s directives.”
“We hope the premier will issue further directives to the club authority for demolition of all illegal structures from the playground.”