10 organizations demand removal of commercial establishments from parks, playgrounds

Ten organizations involved in environment and urban planning have demanded the removal of existing commercial establishments at parks and playgrounds of Dhaka city immediately.

“At various parks and playgrounds of Dhaka city, the two city corporations and other government and non-government organizations are illegally constructing various structures, which is very alarming and we fear that it will make the urban environment, which is in crisis already, even more dangerous,” said a statement issued jointly by the organizations.

The organizations are Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (Bapa), Nijera Kori, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), Association for Land Reform and Development, Nagorik Uddog, Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), Work For a Better Bangladesh (WBB), Green savers, Green Voice, and Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA). 

Commercial establishments are regularly being built at parks and playgrounds in Dhaka, which is at the bottom of the list of livable cities. Evacuating these commercial establishments and making parks and playgrounds free for the public interest is the logical demand of the present time, they said.

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Because there are 129 wards in the two city corporations of the capital Dhaka, but in the Detailed Area Plan (DAP) of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, it is mentioned that 41 wards do not have any playgrounds, the organizations added.

According to urban planners, a modern city needs one playground for every half square kilometre of area. The area of the two city corporations of Dhaka is 305.47 square kilometres.

According to that, the 10 organizations said, the two city corporations of Dhaka need at least 610 fields, there are only 256 which is much less than the requirement, in addition, the size of 256 fields is not sufficient in proportion to the population. As a result, 27.82% of Dhaka's total youth is deprived of playground facilities.

Also, citizens are deprived of the right to fresh air, exercise and walking, and above all the essential opportunity to connect people with nature, they added.

Courtesy  Regrettably, various structures are being constructed at these parks and fields even from the government level. Basically, these structures are being constructed in violation of the prevailing laws and approved plans (Detailed Area Plan/DAP) of the country, they added.

Bahadur Shah Park is a place of relaxation for the people of Old Dhaka. This park, rich in history, tradition and antiquities is used by the students of 14 nearby educational institutions, as well as by the local residents. But Dhaka South City Corporation without considering these aspects has leased out the park land where the lessee has built permanent infrastructure and shop, the organizations said.

This is damaging the natural environment of the park and the park is being used for commercial purposes instead of a place for local people to enjoy fresh air, exercise and walk, they added. 

The construction of permanent infrastructure inside the almost 200-year-old park for commercial purposes cannot be acceptable in any way, reads the statement.

A coffee shop has been established at Sahabuddin Park in Gulshan under Dhaka North City Corporation. 

The construction of buildings and coffee shops at a park for public use is not acceptable under any logic, they said, adding that although the maintenance of the parks was presented as an argument in favour of such commercialization of the parks, the maintenance costs could be collected from the tax money of the local residents or from them differently.

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“Rajuk's silence in this regard is also completely unacceptable. There is no public scrutiny of these commercial establishments. Even the views of other experts including city planners were not taken,” added the statement.

“We demand the immediate removal of all constructed and under-construction commercial establishments from all parks and playgrounds including Dhupkhola Ground, Bahadur Shah Park and Gulshan Shahabuddin Park in the world's most populous capital, Dhaka.”

They also demanded that grounds, parks/gardens and open spaces be free from commercial establishments and to take necessary steps for proper conservation and maintenance of the space.