Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, an MP from a reserved seat for women (Seat 30), has urged the government to recover parks and playgrounds that have been occupied by drug addicts and criminals.
Speaking on a matter of public importance under Rule 71 during the second session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on Monday, Moni said that parks and playgrounds in Dhaka and other cities—which were once places for children’s recreation, sports, and leisure for the elderly—have now become hubs for drug users.
The parliamentary session was chaired by deputy speaker Kayser Kamal.
Moni noted that some parks and playgrounds had been encroached upon, while others had lost their aesthetic appeal due to commercialisation under the guise of children's amusement parks.
‘As a result, people of all ages in brick-and-concrete cities are increasingly seeking refuge in mobile phone screens,’ she said.
She added that these open spaces were no longer safe for ordinary citizens and urged city corporations and urban authorities to take urgent measures to rid them of drug users and criminal activities.
Replying to the notice, Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that during the tenure of the previous ‘fascist’ regime, playgrounds and open spaces had been occupied for partisan purposes.
‘Since forming the government, we have been trying to recover those fields and recreational spaces,’ the minister said.
He highlighted that Gulistan Park, also known as Shaheed Matiur Rahman Park, had long been occupied by drug addicts, vagrants, and floating hawkers, but has now been transformed into a clean, well-maintained model park.
The minister stated that 256 parks and playgrounds under the ownership of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and other agencies were being gradually recovered and made suitable for public use and sports activities.
Several major parks and playgrounds in Dhaka South have already been renovated or are currently under development. These include Malitola Park, Shaheed Matiur Rahman Park, Gulistan-Motijheel Park, Adamjee Building Motijheel Park, Nawabganj Park, and Osmani Udyan.
According to the minister, development work is also ongoing at Jatrabari Shishu Park, Bashir Uddin Park, Shahbagh Shishu Park, Haji Abdul Alim Playground, Rasulbagh Park, Delwar Hossain Playground, Jorpukur Playground in Khilgaon, Basabo Playground, Shaheed Park in Basabo, Sadeque Hossain Khoka Playground, South Goran Sultan Bhuiyan Jheel Park Playground, and Basabo Balur Math Playground.
Furthermore, he said that the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has 38 parks and playgrounds, all of which have been modernised and kept open to the public. Eviction drives are continuing to keep DNCC playgrounds free from illegal occupation, he added.
In Chattogram, the minister announced that one recreational park or playground would be built in each of the city’s 41 wards in phases.
‘Work is currently underway on five playground and park development projects, while one project has already been completed,’ he said, adding that a new development project proposal is being prepared to upgrade 12 additional playgrounds and parks across the city.
Regarding Khulna, he noted that eight parks in the city serve as important recreational spaces for children, youths, and elderly residents.
Regular mobile court drives are being conducted under the leadership of the Khulna City Corporation administrator to ensure that parks such as Khalishpur Shishu Park, Gorpabari Park, Shaheed Hadis Park, Sonadanga Solar Energy Park, Jatisangha Shishu Park, Golokmoni Shishu Park, and Nirala Residential Area Park remain safe and accessible to the public, the minister concluded.
