Maximum measures will be taken to rescue occupied parks, playgrounds: DNCC mayor

Atiqul Islam, mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), has said maximum measures would be taken to recover occupied parks and playgrounds, which are not the private property of anyone, but the property of the city corporation. No one may occupy them.

He said this while inaugurating Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park in Gulshan on Saturday.

The mayor said he was putting pressure on his teams to quickly open another 27 parks and playgrounds. After visiting five parks, it was found that the occupants were not allowing the contractors to work.

"Give up this [attitude] quickly. As the design of the parks has been prepared and the money has been allocated, this time they must happen," he warned the occupants.

Regarding the maintenance of Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park, the mayor said Tk17 crore has been spent on the development of the park. Everyone has to maintain it together.

He said there are 1,700 trees in this park. No tree has been felled. The park has been designed involving the local community.

Also known as Gulshan Tank Park, Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park, on nine acres of land, is a community park adjacent to the embassy area in Gulshan. Its work started on March 15, 2018.

The park is decorated with about 1,600 trees of different species.

Further, the park has: five types of walking paths, a toilet, gymnasium with bathroom, prayer place with wadu place, canteen and six sitting kiosks, a library with Bangabandhu Corner, basketball ground, and badminton court.

In addition to streamlining three ponds, a walkway with three viewing decks has been constructed around the reservoir.

An amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 400 people has been constructed on the north-western slope of the reservoir.

In front of the open stage, there is a performance deck built on the reservoir and an artificial water fountain coming out of the reservoir.

Earl R Miller, ambassador of the United States to Bangladesh, and Reva Ganguly Das, ambassador of India, among others, spoke on the occasion with Md Mofizur Rahman, councillor, Ward 19 in the chair.