Return Golapbagh playground

Green activists and residents of Golapbagh area recently formed a "citizens' rally" to demand the return of their beloved Golapbagh playground. People of the locality have long been deprived of the use of this free space since the beginning of the construction of Mayor Hanif flyover; the construction work ended two years ago. Yet, authorities have not bothered to remove the leftover construction material and equipment from the finished project. We are perplexed as to why this has not been done. Taking advantage of the situation, we understand that some unscrupulous elements have been trying to grab the playground altogether.

We sympathise with the residents in their clamour for the return of the playground. In a city of some 16 million residents, Dhaka has very few open spaces left for recreational purposes. Those that remain are constantly under threat of being grabbed and turned into commercial or residential plots. The Golapbgah playground may not amount to much as far as city officials are concerned, but for those who live in its vicinity, it is considered a vital area where children may play, where adults may walk and inhale a breath of fresh air, where the elderly may congregate and relax.

It is interesting to note that at the time of mayoral elections, both city mayors had pledged to free playgrounds and parks. Dhaka residents would like to see that promise fulfilled in the interest of maintaining some semblance of a quality life in a city that is fast transforming into a concrete jungle bereft of all greenery.