Most of the public playgrounds under two city corporations in Dhaka have become virtually off-limits to children and youngsters due to lack of proper monitoring and maintenance by the authorities concerned.
The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has 10 public playgrounds under its authority while Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has only one.
Some of these grounds are being used for city corporations’ infrastructural development purposes while several are being used by private clubs for their own purposes in defiance of separate directives of the High Court and the Prime Minister.
Although the rest seem unoccupied, they are in a sorry state due to negligence shown by the city corporation authorities.
Back in September 2010, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to recover all the children parks and playgrounds in the capital.
Acting on the directive, the former Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) conducted a survey in different areas of the capital and identified a number of playgrounds that were occupied illegally or were being used for other purposes which is still the case at present, sources say.
According to sources, the Jatrabari-Gulistan flyover authorities have been using two playgrounds since 2010. Equipment and construction materials stored in the areas continue to prevent children from playing there.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club authorities have taken control of Dhanmondi playground despite repeated directives from the High Court to keep it as a public place. Sources say the club has itself been illegally occupying the ground beside road number 8 since 1962, with city corporation authorities continually playing a dubious role in this regard.
The Kalabagan playground in the capital is also controlled by Kalabagan Krira Chakra. Residents of Dhanmondi, Kalabagan and Shukrabad claim only members of the clubs have unhindered access to the playgrounds while the general people can only use those in the absence of the club members.
Other playgrounds under the jurisdiction of the two city corporations include Dhupkhola playground, Golapbagh playground, Sadeque Hossain Khoka playground, Bangladesh playground, Basabo playground, Lalbagh Shashanghat playground, Killar More playground and Banani playground.
During a recent visit, this correspondent found that the places were a shambles. There was no grass there and the fields were only covered with sand. Locals said the places become muddy during the rainy season, thus becoming off-limits to children at the time.
This correspondent found several makeshift shops in the playgrounds run by small traders. They were seen indiscriminately dumping waste in those places, thus making them untidy.
Asked, Md Ansar Ali Khan, chief executive officer of DSCC, told the Dhaka Tribune: “All the playgrounds are under our control. The private clubs are using those for the time being.”
“The playgrounds are open to all. If anyone faces trouble entering any of those places, I would suggest him to complain to me,” he added.
Asked, DNCC chief estate officer Md Fasiullah said: “We have taken steps to revamp the Banani playground along with other open spaces.”
