The surroundings of the Jatiya Sangsad (parliament) have become a safe haven for prostitutes, their pimps, drug addicts and hijackers.
Residents of the capital alleged that each government takes care of the Bangabhaban (presidential palace), and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and residence (Gano Bhaban), but that parliament is always uncared for.
The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka is encircled by four major roads – Lake Road to the North, Rokeya Sarani to the East, Manik Mia Avenue to the South and Mirpur Road to the West.
Some passersby complained that the surroundings of parliament including the roads, gardens and open spaces are so filthy that they repulse visitors.
Ruksana Ahmed, a resident of Pallabi in Mirpur who came to visit the JS, said: “I am very upset to see the unhygienic and dirty environment around our national parliament house.
“I visited the area long ago but this time it is more unpleasant. Floating people are defecating in the open spaces around the Jatiya Sangsad under the very noses of on-duty police,” said the annoyed Ruksana.
Ariful Islam, a resident of Baridhara who came with his family for a visit on Friday evening, said: “The western and southern parts of the national parliament are no longer safe and secure because of antisocial activities.”
Prostitutes, drug addicts and peddlers are roaming freely doing their jobs in the presence of law enforcers, he complained.
The JS is a wonder of modern architecture and technology designed by the famous American architect Louis I Kahn. It is one of the largest and most spectacular parliament buildings in the world. This 155 foot high 9-storey building is surrounded by an artificial lake called the Crescent Lake.
The adjoining Chandrima Uddyan (Zia Uddyan) too, is not free from antisocial activities.
However, the northwestern part of the JS is well protected due to tight security, ensured for the safety of the prime minister’s residence Gano Bhaban.
A sex worker told the Dhaka Tribune that the Nut Garden to the eastern part of parliament is safe for their business.
After she made guessed that the correspondent was a journalist, she said nothing really happens to them as they regularly pay the on-duty police personnel.
Parliament Secretary Md Mahfuzur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our responsibilities are limited to the boundary walls of the parliament area and it is the city corporation that should maintain the outer parts of the Jatiya Sangsad."
“At different times we took steps to stop antisocial activities inside the parliament boundary,” he said.
