The historic Bahadur Shah Park, still testifying to the brutal massacre of those who took up arms against the British regime in 1875, is losing much of its attraction
because of adequate maintenance and monitoring.
Parts of the park footpath have illegally been occupied to set up shops and other businesses.
The fountain inside the park has remained uncared for since long though park officials have claimed that they run the fountain twice in a day.
In the park area, city corporation officials are often seen to wash their motorbikes while the basins and mirrors of the separate washrooms for male and females are not usable.
Students of nearby schools, colleges and universities were seen whiling away their time gossiping, playing, dating, playing cards and smoking inside the park.
Seeking anonymity, a student of Government Collegiate School, said, ‘We are not allowed to play at the school playground. That’s why we play cricket here.’
Park official Abdel Mannan told New Age, ‘Students are polluting the park environment. If we request them not to smoke or make public nuisance, they pick quarrel with us and even sometimes assault us.’
Around 5,000 people visit the park every day, he said.
Abdel Mannan said people from Kaltabazar, Laxmi Bazar, Shakhari Bazar, Tantibazar, Bangla Bazar Patla Khan Lane, Gandaria, Dholai Khal and Narinda visit this park for jogging and enjoying their leisure.
Shaheba Ali, guardian of a student of a nearby school, said she often come to the park for walking after dropping her child at the school.
Another visitor, Komol Chandra said he has been coming to this park for jogging for the last 10 years.
He said the authorities concerned should take more initiative to save the historic park and the visitors should also be more careful in using the park.
Save the Environment Movement chairman Abu Naser Khan said the authorities concerned do not maintain the park properly and thus the park is losing its real appearance day by day and the visitors are not getting their required service.
The environmentalist said the park has a special identity because, during the sepoy revolt of 1857, some mutineers, including a woman, were hanged at this spot.
The park was built in 1858 at the initiative of Nawab Khwaja Abdul Ghani and it was called Victoria Park until 1947, said the park officials.
Later, it was renamed Bahadur Shah Park in memory of the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II in whose time the mutiny took place, they said.
Dhaka South City Corporation Region-4 administrative officer Rezaul Hossain said sometimes the fountain’s motor went out of order.
He said the park officials urge visitors not to violate the park rules but they do not pay heed as most of the visitors are students of nearby educational institutions.
Rezaul Hossain said it is not the duty of city corporations only to look after the parks, the citizens should also feel the necessity and importance of a park.
The park remains open for from 5:00am to 9:00pm every day.
-With New Age input
