The name of Anwara Park in Farmgate, the capital, is intertwined with a tragic memory from the 1969 mass uprising. However, it has ceased to function as a park. Presently, the site is utilized for storing various construction materials for the metro rail project, rendering it unsuitable for public use.
Concerns have arisen that the park may never revert to its original state. The metro rail Authority intends to construct a plaza in this park, a proposal met with opposition from local residents, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), and several environmental organizations.
The park falls under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department, with maintenance and development responsibilities resting with the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
Since 2018, the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has been utilizing the site, with permission from the department, for project offices and storing metro rail construction materials.
According to Maqbul Hossain, the public relations officer for DNCC, the park holds historical significance.
Anwara Begum, while breastfeeding her four-month-old child Nargis at her residence in Nakhalpara during the January 25, 1969 uprising, tragically lost her life to a police bullet fired by the Pakistani regime.
A signboard named Anwara Bagan was erected in her memory, leading to the park's renaming as Anwara field.
DNCC aims to revamp the field into a recreational space suitable for various age groups, offering amenities for sports, entertainment, and leisurely strolls for the elderly. The vision is to create an aesthetically pleasing environment for present and future generations.
However, DMTCL has plans to develop plaza spaces at four station locations, including Farmgate, to generate revenue for sustaining Metrorail operations. These plazas would host commercial activities such as shops, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, entertainment centers, and sports facilities for children.
Abdul Baki Mia, director of planning and development at DMTCL, emphasized that the plaza construction is still in the planning phase, with further steps depending on securing suitable public space.
This correspondent could not talk to Md Shamim Akhtar, chief engineer at Public Works Department, despite repeated attempts over phone.
Wishing to remain anonymous, another official at Public Works Department said: “Since no decision has been taken yet, nothing can be said. However, the ministry has received a letter from the metro rail authority seeking permission to build the plaza.”
The official said it is more likely that the metro rail authority will acquire the park space for plaza development. DNCC also sought to acquire the park space. However, since it is public asset, the city corporation can only undertake its maintenance and beautification work.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam expressed disappointment over the decision, advocating for the preservation of Anwara Park as a vital green space in Farmgate.
"It is very sad that a plaza will be built in Anwara Park. This field is the lungs of Farmgate. It is hard to accept that a commercial area like Farmgate will not have an open field. Farmgate already has enough plazas, commercial buildings. It won’t matter if you don't build a new one. I will request Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to destroy the park. She loves open fields. I hope she will listen to us,” he said.
Local residents echo the sentiment, reminiscing about childhood memories spent playing in the park and expressing disappointment over its neglect. They argue for the park's preservation and propose naming it after Shaheed Anwara Begum to honor her sacrifice during the uprising.
Ifti Mahbub, a local resident, said: "We have many memories of our childhood in this field. We used to play cricket here. The place has never been well preserved and maintained.”
While some see the plaza as an enhancement to the area's aesthetics, others, like historian Professor Muntasir Mamun, emphasize the importance of preserving historical sites as reminders of the nation's struggle for independence.
Dr Adil Muhammad Khan, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), said: "In a city full of people like Dhaka, where there is such a crisis of parks, building another plaza by destroying a park cannot be accepted in any way. There is no way to justify this."
He continued: “In developed world there are beautiful parks next to metro rails, where city dwellers can come and enjoy some time. We already have a shortage of fields and parks. I hope the Public Works Department will consider this.”