Activists demonstrated demanding the return of Tetultola Field, a sports area in Kalabagan that was handed over to the police in January 2022 to be used for a Kalabagan Police Station building.
A human chain was formed at West Panthapath on Friday demanding that the field be returned to the public.
According to the residents of the area, on January 31, 2022, a police group led by Kalabagan Police OC removed children from the field and barricaded the area with barbed wires.
Protesters claimed that the larger Kalabagan area does not have any playground and the "Tetultala ground” has been an open playground for youngsters in North Dhanmondi.
"The number of children's playgrounds in Dhaka is gradually dwindling,” said Syeda Ratna, the convenor of the human chain.
“As we all know where sports is essential for children's development, without this field, our children will not develop physically or psychologically,” she added.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneAccording to her the field where many have played for the last fifty years is filled with history.
“Since the 1970s, several groups have attempted to seize the land, but the residents have fought back. We will also fight back this time,” she continued.
In addition to serving as a sports area, the field was also used for Eid Jamaat and Janazah. Moreover, every year at various festivals, social and cultural programs are also held.
The protesters expressed surprise and disappointment at the police’s behavior.
Meanwhile, Kalabagan Police OC Paritosh Chanda claims that there is no playground in Kalabagan and the Tetultola field was merely an open space used by people.
“Anyone can play in an open space and call that a playground,” he said, adding that the home ministry handed over the land to the police department a few days ago and there was nothing the law enforcers can do.
