Dhanmondi playground, which had recently been re-declared as a public ground by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), has again become virtually off-limits to children, youngsters and locals as authority of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club continue to control the playground's gates.
In the last decade, several concrete structures, including housing for club's players, staffs and construction labours, were built on the public ground by the private sporting club due to the negligence and lack of planning by DSCC.
During this period, the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club had been using the name of Bangabandhu's family to fend off any legal action that might be taken against them for the illicit occupation. Recently, they painted large portraits of Bangabandhu, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and late Sheikh Jamal in front of the main gate of the playground.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, several residents of the area said they could not enter the playground due to restriction and protests from Sheikh Jamal club authority. Ishtiaq Ahmed, a resident of Dhanmondi yesterday, said: “Though the city corporation had reopened the playground to public in May, the private club authority had again shut the gates for the public.
“When the media ran reports on the playground, the club authority had allowed the general public to enter the ground. Now, the club authority does not allow it any more.”
Visiting yesterday, the Dhaka Tribune correspondent found that a security guard was being kept at gate of the playground. However, when this reporter tried to enter in the playground, he was stopped by the security guard saying the club authority has directed him not to allow anyone, except club officials, to enter the ground.
Contacted, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club President Manjur Kader, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday: “The issue is now a pending issue in the High Court. So, I cannot say anything about this.
“If you further want anything about it, you can go to the court and ask,” he suggested.
Back in 2004, following a petition filed by the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), the High Court directed the then Dhaka City Corporation (now Dhaka South City Corporation) to free the playground from the illegal occupation.
On April 24 this year, DSCC authorities reopened the public playground following a demonstration staged by the green activists, locals and sports personalities.
Later on May 18, the city corporation conducted a drive at the Dhanmondi playground and demolished only two illegal establishments in compliance with an HC order of 2011.
Earlier, a High Court bench dropped a petition filed by six green activists, seeking the court directives to remove illegal structures built on the Dhanmondi playground, from its cause list.
The petition was later accepted and sent to another bench, which felt embarrassed to hear it.
Meanwhile, the DSCC authority had always played silent role over the issue.
When contacted, DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Ansar Ali Khan, repeated: “We have not been informed about any such incident. If any irregularities are found, we would take action against it.”
