The Bahadur Shah Park Heritage Preservation Sangram Parishad has submitted a memorandum to the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) outlining six demands aimed at protecting Bahadur Shah Park, formerly known as Victoria Park, the only park in Old Dhaka.
The memorandum, signed by Professor Dr Abdul Mannan, convener of the Bahadur Shah Park Heritage Conservation Struggle Council, and Member Secretary Aktaruzzaman Khan, was submitted to the DSCC on Sunday.
Aktaruzzaman Khan said: "We have long been advocating for the preservation of Bahadur Shah Park. Despite raising numerous demands, none have been fully met, and the park's condition has deteriorated further. If our demands continue to be ignored, we will have no choice but to escalate our actions. We do not want extortion or small shops in this park. We are committed to restoring the dignity of Bahadur Shah Park.”
The memorandum includes six key demands:
- The restoration of the inscription “In memory of the martyrs of 1857” atop the Martyr's Monument and the enhancement of the monument's colour by adding red.
- The removal of encroachments that have turned the park into a nursery and ensuring the preservation of the environment.
- The recruitment of porters and cleaners to address the increasing issues of drug abuse, theft, and other misdeeds in the park due to its lack of maintenance.
- An end to the setting up of shops in the park area, which disrupts the walking environment.
- The installation of exercise and children’s play equipment, which has been missing since the last government's intervention, to create a conducive environment for exercise and recreation for the local residents and students of nearby educational institutions.
- The cessation of the illegal use of the park's electrical lines for business purposes.
“I urge your immediate intervention,” Aktaruzzaman added. “We need to restore the park's environment for the benefit of the local community, including the people of the area, Jagannath University, and the students of the 14 educational institutions located within a quarter mile of the park.”
