Law enforcement agencies are occupying at least 19 out of 48 community centres in the capital for extended periods, depriving public access to these venues.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have expanded security operations on several occasions, when they set up security outposts and camps at various community centres.
Local government-run community centres are generally used for weddings and other celebrations. Many also have libraries and gyms for local residents’ use.
These facilities face closure when the venues are rented by security forces.
Some public education institutions, such as school buildings, especially in the older parts of Dhaka, are being used as affordable alternative venues. Many of the private venues are too expensive and beyond the means of those with limited financial resources.
Sources said two community centres that were built by the erstwhile Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) before it was split into two, are in the corporations’ possession.
The continued occupation by the security forces has aggravated the situation, which is already exacerbated by a general lack of affordable venues.
“Some of my fondest memories are of the Shayesta Khan Community Centre in Lalbagh, which was like a second home to me. It had a music centre, a library and a gymnasium,” said Reyadul Islam, a resident of Lalbagh, remembers playing in the yard of the community centre, and celebrated various social and cultural events, but ever since a Rab 10 camp was set up at the venue several years ago, it has been inaccessible to locals. The Lalbagh local said: “Now we cannot even step into the premises, let alone use the venue for any event. It is really pathetic.”
Residents of other areas also expressed discontent about public venues occupied by security forces. However, fearing repercussions if security forces learned of their identities, many sought anonymity when they spoke about the situation, while others declined to comment.
In May last year, residents of Mughda demonstrated on the streets to protest against a move by police to establish an outpost at Afir Uddin Community Centre, a public venue in the area. However, their objections were never heeded by the authorities.
Social aspects
Rights activist Sultana Kamal, chairperson of Transparency International Bangladesh’s (TIB) board of trustees, said if people were unable hold social, cultural and religious celebrations because they were barred from access to public venues, amounted to more than breach of civic rights.
She said: “Security is an important issue, but the importance of people-to-people contact in society cannot be overestimated,” but the two issues should not be “mutually contradictory” according to her.
The TIB chairperson said the government needed to find suitable places for external wings of security forces and allowed the public to use community centres for purposes they were intended for.
She warned that communities with little or no access to healthy social activities and cultural interactions could easily turn to social ills and criminal activities.
Response of authorities concerned
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hassan Mahmood Khandker said they were “forced” to use some public community centres, given the importance and necessity of establishing a network to ensure public safety.
He said: “We are using the venues because there is no other alternative. But this is just a temporary arrangement. As soon as we find suitable places, the community centres will be freed for public use again.”
Rab Director General Moklesur Rahman said several alternative sites had already been selected where buildings would be constructed for Rab’s use.
However, sources said neither the police nor Rab had any “immediate plan” to vacate the community centres they had been occupying.
There are plans to build at least 101 new police stations, 21 of those in Dhaka, at the cost of nearly Tk82bn.
But none of the police outposts located in the community centres were included in the list of new stations. Among the community centres occupied by the police are venues in Lalbagh, Bongshal, Wari, Mugda, Basabo, Dhanmondi, Rupnagar, Khilgaon, Kamrangirchar and Pallabi. While centres in Azimpur are being used by Chawkbazar police station and two community centres in Lalbagh are being used for residential purposes.
Rab occupied venues include centres in Sher-e-Banglanagar, Moghbazar, Tikatuli, Khilgoan, and one in Mohammadpur’s Tajmahal Road.
