ound has been closed and a pocket gate has been kept open. The security guards deployed there by the club authority are obstructing the entrance of the general people there. Small posts have been erected all over the ground. There are huge weeds in the ground now due to closure of people’s entry there for long. It is learnt that the right to entry to the Dhanmondi ground of the public has been snatched again on the pretext of security and construction of structures. Huge population of Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, Sukrabad and adjacent areas has been deprived of the right to enter the ground they had realized after long struggle. However, DCC said, the ground of the people will remain open at any cost. When wanted to know about this the Chief Estate Officer DSCC (Deputy Secretary) Khaled Hossain told Kaler Kontho last Thursday, “The entry of the general public to Dhanmondi has not been prohibited by us. No person or establishment has either been given the controlling authority of the ground. So, there should not be any obstacle for public to enter the ground. When complexity was created over this ground, we opened the gate to all. If any complication is created again, action must be taken. It was observed during an on-the–spot survey that two security guards were standing at the entrance of the playground. As this reporter tried to enter there, he was resisted by the guards. Asked as to whether any restriction is imposed, guard Zalil said, “It is not possible to enter the playground. The club authority has imposed the restriction.” Explaining reasons for removal of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) signboard, he said “Some unknown persons removed it before the Eid-ul-Fitr.” After entering the ground by managing the guards, it was seen that small sticks are erected here and there of the ground. The tall grass shows that the ground is abandoned. A portion at the east is covered with a net. Replying to a query, Dhanmondi Sheikh Jamal Club president Manjur Kader said “The playground is a public property. Some environmentalists filed a case on the issue of the field. I cannot make any comment on the sub-judice matter.” On Thursday noon, two friends—Rashed Chowdhury and Siam Ahmed—were sitting near the entrance of the playground. Rashed, 15-year-old boy of Kalabagan area, said “After staging a long movement, we got permission to enter the playground. All people of the locality used to come to this field. Now, nobody makes it to here as their entry is not allowed by the security guards.” Echoing the above view, Siam expressed his grievance. He said “Everybody has right to enter the government playground. As such, nobody could prevent us from coming here. In absence of the movement, they are obstructing public entry again.” Architect Ikbal Habib said “Ignoring the order of the court, a section is preventing people from entering the ground. We informed the DSCC administrator in writing. We met him. He assured us of looking after the overall activities of the ground with his manpower. Besides, necessary step will be taken to ensure public entry.” Referring to their legal fight, he said, “We went to court and submitted all documents. On the other hand, the club management could not show any paper to substantiate its claim. But the government authorities concerned played silent role in this regard.” On April 21, Architect Mobaswer Hossain, Ikbal Habib, Farzana Shahnaz and three other locals filed a writ with the High Court. Former Attorney General Barrister Fida M Kamal and Barrister Sara Hossain appeared for the petitioners. The court is yet to pass any order in this regard. It is learnt that construction of structure on the field is near completion. Construction materials like concrete and rods are kept in a corner of the field. Two badminton courts and two tennis courts were constructed at the cost of Tk 1.63 crore. Oriented International Ltd constructed those. RAJUK member (planning) Sheikh Abdul Mannan told Kaler Kantho that “When we came to know about construction of unauthorised structures, we sent letter to DSCC and LGED through our authorised officer to stop the construction work. But, we did not get positive response.” An official of DCC said RAJUK sent a letter to stop the construction work. As it was not a building structure, RAJUK has no right to issue order to stop it. Nazrul Islam, Executive Engineer of LGED said, “No big building was constructed in the field. So it is not right that we have constructed a building defying law.” It is learnt from the local residents that many environment organisations and local people since long has been organizing movement in protest against construction of boundary wall surrounding Sheikh Jamal Playground at Dhanmondi, construction of building and prohibiting public entrance to the playground. The movement turned into a local movement. Thousand of people used to organize a rally every Friday since morning to noon on the issue. They submitted memorandum to Prime Minister, RAJUK and DSCC on March 27 last for protecting the Dhanmondi ground. Ignoring High Court order many buildings were constructed by grabbing fifty percent land of the Dhanmondi ground. DSCC and LGED demanded that there was no legal barrier for constructing sports building in the field. So they did not backtrack from construction of building. At one stage a case was lodged on behalf of the club against illegal intruders. On the face of movement a large number of law enforcers led by DSCC Magistrate Md Atul Mondol opened the gate for public entrance. At the same time they hung a signboard in front of the gate which was inscribed with “Dhaka South City Corporation is the owner of Dhanmondi ground” which is open to all. Md Atul Mondol, Executive Magistrate of DSCC told Kaler Kontho, “Nobody can put barrier to public entrance to Dhanmondi ground which is owned by DSCC. We hung a signboard in front of the main gate for ensuring public entrance to the field.” Agitators said that City Corporation and LGED, the project implementing agency, violated the law by constructing establishments. From the very beginning, this Dhanmondi ground was open for all. In 2009, the name of Dhanmondi club was changed to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi club and then the boundary wall of the ground was constructed. The club authority then restricted the entry of common people to the ground. Around 50 social organisations waged movement for several years to free the ground for all and from illegal eviction. A case was filed against four persons including architect Mobassher Hossain and unidentified 200 people on the charge of entering the ground after breaking the lock of the gate. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club general secretary Arifur Rahman filed the case with Dhanmondi police station. Later the agitators got bail from the court. The five-point demand of the agitators has not been realised yet. The five-point include withdrawal of false case against the agitators, eviction of all illegal establishments and the occupiers, stopping of all construction works, ensuring entrance of all people and formation of a field management committee with the initiative of City Corporation. Such demands have not been realised yet despite having several meetings, seminars and human chains over the year. Around 50 social organisations waged movement to free the government ground for the common people along with the local people. The organisations are: Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Green Voice, Sabuj Pata, Nirapad Development Foundation, WBB Trust, Dhaka Juba Foundation, Adi Dhaka Bashi Forum, Puran Dhaka Paribesh Unnayan Forum, Bangladesh Environmental Engineers Association, Ain o Salish Kendra, Centre for Urban Studies, Nijera Kori, Doctors for Health and Environment, Megh Roddur Khelaghar Asar and Chhatra Union. Courtesy: Kaler Kantho
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Entry to Dhanmondi playground again restricted:Daily Sun
ound has been closed and a pocket gate has been kept open. The security guards deployed there by the club authority are obstructing the entrance of the general people there. Small posts have been erected all over the ground. There are huge weeds in the ground now due to closure of people’s entry there for long. It is learnt that the right to entry to the Dhanmondi ground of the public has been snatched again on the pretext of security and construction of structures. Huge population of Dhanmondi, Kalabagan, Sukrabad and adjacent areas has been deprived of the right to enter the ground they had realized after long struggle. However, DCC said, the ground of the people will remain open at any cost. When wanted to know about this the Chief Estate Officer DSCC (Deputy Secretary) Khaled Hossain told Kaler Kontho last Thursday, “The entry of the general public to Dhanmondi has not been prohibited by us. No person or establishment has either been given the controlling authority of the ground. So, there should not be any obstacle for public to enter the ground. When complexity was created over this ground, we opened the gate to all. If any complication is created again, action must be taken. It was observed during an on-the–spot survey that two security guards were standing at the entrance of the playground. As this reporter tried to enter there, he was resisted by the guards. Asked as to whether any restriction is imposed, guard Zalil said, “It is not possible to enter the playground. The club authority has imposed the restriction.” Explaining reasons for removal of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) signboard, he said “Some unknown persons removed it before the Eid-ul-Fitr.” After entering the ground by managing the guards, it was seen that small sticks are erected here and there of the ground. The tall grass shows that the ground is abandoned. A portion at the east is covered with a net. Replying to a query, Dhanmondi Sheikh Jamal Club president Manjur Kader said “The playground is a public property. Some environmentalists filed a case on the issue of the field. I cannot make any comment on the sub-judice matter.” On Thursday noon, two friends—Rashed Chowdhury and Siam Ahmed—were sitting near the entrance of the playground. Rashed, 15-year-old boy of Kalabagan area, said “After staging a long movement, we got permission to enter the playground. All people of the locality used to come to this field. Now, nobody makes it to here as their entry is not allowed by the security guards.” Echoing the above view, Siam expressed his grievance. He said “Everybody has right to enter the government playground. As such, nobody could prevent us from coming here. In absence of the movement, they are obstructing public entry again.” Architect Ikbal Habib said “Ignoring the order of the court, a section is preventing people from entering the ground. We informed the DSCC administrator in writing. We met him. He assured us of looking after the overall activities of the ground with his manpower. Besides, necessary step will be taken to ensure public entry.” Referring to their legal fight, he said, “We went to court and submitted all documents. On the other hand, the club management could not show any paper to substantiate its claim. But the government authorities concerned played silent role in this regard.” On April 21, Architect Mobaswer Hossain, Ikbal Habib, Farzana Shahnaz and three other locals filed a writ with the High Court. Former Attorney General Barrister Fida M Kamal and Barrister Sara Hossain appeared for the petitioners. The court is yet to pass any order in this regard. It is learnt that construction of structure on the field is near completion. Construction materials like concrete and rods are kept in a corner of the field. Two badminton courts and two tennis courts were constructed at the cost of Tk 1.63 crore. Oriented International Ltd constructed those. RAJUK member (planning) Sheikh Abdul Mannan told Kaler Kantho that “When we came to know about construction of unauthorised structures, we sent letter to DSCC and LGED through our authorised officer to stop the construction work. But, we did not get positive response.” An official of DCC said RAJUK sent a letter to stop the construction work. As it was not a building structure, RAJUK has no right to issue order to stop it. Nazrul Islam, Executive Engineer of LGED said, “No big building was constructed in the field. So it is not right that we have constructed a building defying law.” It is learnt from the local residents that many environment organisations and local people since long has been organizing movement in protest against construction of boundary wall surrounding Sheikh Jamal Playground at Dhanmondi, construction of building and prohibiting public entrance to the playground. The movement turned into a local movement. Thousand of people used to organize a rally every Friday since morning to noon on the issue. They submitted memorandum to Prime Minister, RAJUK and DSCC on March 27 last for protecting the Dhanmondi ground. Ignoring High Court order many buildings were constructed by grabbing fifty percent land of the Dhanmondi ground. DSCC and LGED demanded that there was no legal barrier for constructing sports building in the field. So they did not backtrack from construction of building. At one stage a case was lodged on behalf of the club against illegal intruders. On the face of movement a large number of law enforcers led by DSCC Magistrate Md Atul Mondol opened the gate for public entrance. At the same time they hung a signboard in front of the gate which was inscribed with “Dhaka South City Corporation is the owner of Dhanmondi ground” which is open to all. Md Atul Mondol, Executive Magistrate of DSCC told Kaler Kontho, “Nobody can put barrier to public entrance to Dhanmondi ground which is owned by DSCC. We hung a signboard in front of the main gate for ensuring public entrance to the field.” Agitators said that City Corporation and LGED, the project implementing agency, violated the law by constructing establishments. From the very beginning, this Dhanmondi ground was open for all. In 2009, the name of Dhanmondi club was changed to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi club and then the boundary wall of the ground was constructed. The club authority then restricted the entry of common people to the ground. Around 50 social organisations waged movement for several years to free the ground for all and from illegal eviction. A case was filed against four persons including architect Mobassher Hossain and unidentified 200 people on the charge of entering the ground after breaking the lock of the gate. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club general secretary Arifur Rahman filed the case with Dhanmondi police station. Later the agitators got bail from the court. The five-point demand of the agitators has not been realised yet. The five-point include withdrawal of false case against the agitators, eviction of all illegal establishments and the occupiers, stopping of all construction works, ensuring entrance of all people and formation of a field management committee with the initiative of City Corporation. Such demands have not been realised yet despite having several meetings, seminars and human chains over the year. Around 50 social organisations waged movement to free the government ground for the common people along with the local people. The organisations are: Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Green Voice, Sabuj Pata, Nirapad Development Foundation, WBB Trust, Dhaka Juba Foundation, Adi Dhaka Bashi Forum, Puran Dhaka Paribesh Unnayan Forum, Bangladesh Environmental Engineers Association, Ain o Salish Kendra, Centre for Urban Studies, Nijera Kori, Doctors for Health and Environment, Megh Roddur Khelaghar Asar and Chhatra Union. Courtesy: Kaler Kantho
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