That construction of the elevated expressway at Panthakunja Park, adjacent to Hotel Sonargaon, is ongoing despite a High Court stay and the case not being fully resolved, is yet another sad reminder that even this government does not quite grasp the importance of public spaces.

Indeed, we see wisdom in the words of Sheikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan, vice president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners who criticized what appears to be the government’s prioritization of private interests over public opinion.

As a city, it is fair to say that Dhaka continues to degrade on a daily basis, with it perpetually being ranked as among the least liveable cities globally and being compared to war-torn cities such as Damascus and Tripoli. 

This construction directly threatens not only the Panthakunja Park but  the Hatirjheel reservoir as well, only adding to the environmental degradation that has defined our capital city’s so-called development over the past two decades or so. 

In actuality, the unchecked urbanization and emphasis on megaprojects at the expense of our natural environment has only resulted in Dhaka becoming more and more unlivable - the result of which we see yearly on the global liveability index.

It is truly surprising how what appears for all sense and purpose to be an anti-public project that does align with our desire for sustainable planning continues to perpetuate. We urge the authorities to heed the words of the experts who are speaking out against it. 

Dhaka’s progress cannot and should not be measured by the bricks and concrete within it. It is time to recognize the value of public spaces and the crucial role they play.