Playgrounds, footpaths to be reclaimed

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman told Parliament that the government was committed to freeing playgrounds, parks and footpaths from illegal occupation and restoring them for public use.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while replying to a starred question from treasury bench lawmaker Luthfullahel Mazed (Mymensingh-8) in the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday, with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.

He said most parks and playgrounds in Dhaka had already been cleared through eviction drives, while modernisation work was underway to improve public access to recreational spaces.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while replying to a starred question from treasury bench lawmaker Luthfullahel Mazed (Mymensingh-8) in the Jatiya Sangsad, with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.

Tarique Rahman said the country’s sports sector had improved significantly since the present government assumed office, while children were now getting greater opportunities to use playgrounds.
“There are 189 parks, playgrounds and open spaces under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC),” he said.

Of these, the DNCC owns 38 facilities, including 24 parks, six playgrounds, four children’s parks and four Eidgahs.

The Prime Minister said initiatives had been taken to appoint security guards, install adequate lighting and CCTV cameras, and increase public awareness to ensure safety at these facilities.

“The 38 parks, playgrounds and open spaces owned by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) are currently free from illegal occupation and are being managed in a planned manner,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said development work on 20 parks, four playgrounds, two children’s parks and two Eidgah grounds under DNCC had already been completed.

The remaining 151 parks, playgrounds, children’s parks, Eidgah grounds and open spaces owned by the National Housing Authority, RAJUK and other agencies would be developed in phases, he added.

He said eviction drives against illegal occupiers of parks and playgrounds would continue.

“There are 256 parks and playgrounds under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), owned by the city corporation and other agencies. Illegal occupiers have already been evicted from these parks and playgrounds,” he said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted ongoing development projects at several DSCC facilities, including Malitola Park, Shaheed Matiur Rahman Park (Gulistan Park), Motijheel Park, Nawabganj Park, Osmani Udyan, Jatrabari Children’s Park and Shahbagh Children’s Park, among others.

Speaking about Gazipur City Corporation, Tarique Rahman said there were limited playgrounds under the city corporation, though several educational and religious institutions had their own playgrounds.
He said the government was providing financial allocations and carrying out development activities to maintain those facilities.

“The government has plans to establish eight playgrounds in the eight zones and 57 playgrounds in the 57 wards under the Gazipur City Corporation,” he said.

The Prime Minister also informed Parliament that initiatives were underway to free parks and playgrounds from illegal occupation and restore them for public use in Mymensingh, Barishal and other city corporations across the country.