Eminent citizens, environmentalists and human rights activists are set to seek Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s intervention to stop the construction of a police station on the Tetultola playground in Dhaka’s Kalabagan.
They will issue a letter to the premier through Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal soon, confirmed Udichi member Syeda Ratna, who has been leading the protests for months.
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“A group of eminent citizens including environmentalists and civil society members, held a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today (Wednesday) to save the playground,” she said, adding that the minister was positive about their demands.
Meanwhile, the protesters on Wednesday organized a puppet show and tree plantation campaign to save the playground.
The ground, once saved, would be used as a permanent Eidgah, where the children would be able to play regularly, she said.
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It is the only playground for children in the area.
On January 31, the Dhaka deputy commissioner's office handed over the playground to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for the latter to set up a permanent building for the Kalabagan police station.
Following the move, residents of the area became vocal and refused to give up hope about retaining the playground.
For several months, they have been demonstrating to protect the playground so that the children in the area can play there.
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The residents of Ward No 17 have been using the open space for nearly 50 years as an Eidgah, for bathing corpses and as a hub for social and cultural festivals.
On Sunday, police detained activist Syeda Ratna and her 17-year-old son over the protests.
The nearly 13-hour detention sparked outrage, with many condemning the move. Activists staged demonstrations in front of the police station until the mother and son were released.
