The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has been using Anwara Udyan in the city’s busiest area as metro rail project office and for keeping construction supplies with permission of the public works department.
According to media reports, the metro rail authority is supposed to restore the park to its original state once the construction work is finished. The construction work of Uttara- Motijheel is now almost complete.
Instead of doing so, DMTCL is planning to construct a metro rail station plaza there. It is speaking of running commercial activities like shops, hotels, restaurants, cafes or entertainment hubs there. In fact, some infrastructures have already been constructed there as well.
But the idea of building a Station Plaza on park is in no way acceptable. Since there were no other parks or playgrounds in Farmgate and its surroundings, Anwara Udyan was the only place of hope for the people in this area.
This was quite a familiar spot for children to go play or elderly people to go for a walk. That park is no longer in its older shape. More importantly, its very existence is under threat.
There were over 200 trees at Anwara Udyan. All the trees were cut down after the metro rail construction had been started. Once people used to rest or hang out chatting at the park. Many used to exercise there in the morning. Now the common people had no access there anymore.
Meanwhile, the DMTCL has recently been given an ultimatum of 30 days to clear out of the capital’s Anwara Udyan from a solidarity rally. If they do not vacate the park within this deadline, announcement has been given to hold sit in and besiege programmes. The solidarity programme was held by the organisation named ‘Farmgate Shaheed Anwara Udyan Rokkha Andolan’.
Victim of unlimited encroachment and pollution, Dhaka has almost completely turned into a concrete jungle. In consequence of these, the capital has been rendered nearly ‘uninhabitable’. According to an international survey on habitability, Dhaka stood 137th among 140 cities around the globe.
Despite applying to keep Anwara Udyan under their control, DMTCL has not yet been given the permission to put these lands in permanent use by the public works department. Hopefully, they will back out of their decision to build a station plaza in this place and the Anwara Udyan will be made open to the general public.