The Dhupkhola and Golapbagh playgrounds in the capital are not open for sports to local youths and children due to the construction delay of the Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover.
According to sources, the flyover authorities have been using those two playgrounds since 2010. The flyover project office and construction materials on the playgrounds have prevented local children from playing on the fields for more than three years.
In the preliminary stages of construction, the construction firm, the Orion Group and executive authorities of the Dhaka City Corporation, (now Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)), assured the people that the fields would be cleared in two years.
Manzurul Hasan, a businessman of the Dhupkola area told the Dhaka Tribune: “The flyover authorities have been using the playground for more than three years to house construction materials and machinery.”
Dhupkhola and Golapbagh fields are the property of the DSCC. Chief Estate Officer of DSCC Mohammad Jamal Hossain refused to talk to journalists as the higher authorities told him not to do so.
He also told this correspondent to talk to the public relation officer (PRO).
When this correspondent approached PRO Uttam Kumar he said the playgrounds would be free after the completion of the flyover and advised this correspondent to speak with
either the chief estate officer, project director or chief executive officer
of the corporation for detailed information.
While asked Ansar Ali, chief executive officer of the DSCC, said: “I don’t know anything about it. The project director of the Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover and estate officer might be able to give you more details.”
The project director and chief estate officer, however, told this correspondent to talk to the higher authorities.
When asked, CEO Ansar Ali got infuriated. “We are not bound to give information to journalists. You can go now,” he snapped.
