‘15,000-Sqft playground to be built at Madarbari’

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has said a scenic 15,000-square-foot playground will be built at the historic Madarbari Balu Math in the city, along with a road and an attractive walkway for pedestrians, to create a pleasant environment in the area.

He was visiting Madarbari Balu Math on Thursday and speaking to local residents and leaders.
The mayor said those who have legal plots would retain them in their existing locations, but no one would be allowed to encroach on the playground area.

“We have pledged to build 41 playgrounds in the city’s 41 wards. As part of that commitment, Madarbari Balu Math has been selected for the project,” he said.

He said development work is currently underway at Halishahar Shishu Park ground, Haji Mohammad Mohsin College ground, Bakalia Stadium and Bakalia School ground. Meanwhile, renovation of Agrabad Jamburi ground is nearing completion.

Nessary activities, he said, including the preparation of Development Project Proposals (DPP), is progressing to establish new playgrounds in other wards of the city.

Stressing that playgrounds are essential to tackling drugs, terrorism and disorder, the mayor said children in Madarbari had long been deprived of opportunities to play due to the absence of a playground in the area.

“There is no alternative to playgrounds if we want to keep children, adolescents and young people away from criminal activities such as online gambling, drugs, terrorism and juvenile gangs,” he said.

Former general secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan BNP Abul Hashem Bakkar, former councillors Zainal Abedin, Mozammel Haque and Ziaur Rahman Zia, among other local leaders, were present during the visit.