This is the second move to grab the park land. Earlier, in 2005, a move by some vested quarters to grab the park land in the name of rehabilitation of a group of small traders was stopped following protests by city dwellers and environmentalists.

There were repeated moves for grabbing Jalalabad Park by a powerful group, which has been eyeing the prime land since 2003. The value of the land would be at least Tk 20 crore, sources said.

The SCC plan to construct a multistoried complex was unveiled by Acting Mayor Azam Khan while announcing the city corporation's annual budget last week.

Targeted expenditure for the proposed project has been fixed at Tk 2 crore, he added. Khan announced the budget as mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran is in jail.

In 2005, Sylhet unit of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) issued legal notice on SCC, organised rallies and formed a human chain protesting the move. In the face of mass protest, the then mayor tried to play innocent and assured that there would not be any construction at the site.

In 2003, some vested quarters allegedly backed by some ward commissioners and SCC officials, organised some 453 traders, most of them fake, under the banner of Sylhet Janakalyan Khudra Bayboshayee Samity.

The Samity, on the plea of rehabilitation of small traders, sent a proposal to the ministry for construction of a multi-storied commercial complex there.

It also managed an order from the ministry secretly, the sources claimed. The ministry on March 7, 2003 ordered SCC for a feasibility report. The SCC on May 17 sent a report to the ministry with a positive note.

The sources also claimed that the mayor had 'tacit support' to the move but he kept himself away apprehending protest by city dwellers.

As things came to light following protests by environmentalists, the project remained shelved.

Talking to this correspondent yesterday, Field Manager of Bela in Sylhet Ayesha Chwodhury said now there is virtually no open space for city dwellers. SCC is planning to grab part of the Jalalabad Park area. City dwellers and environmentalists can not allow this.

"We protested in the past and will continue as long as the move is on", she asserted.

As Bela filed a writ petition for keeping Jalalabad Park intact, the High Court on October 22 last year asked SCC mayor to clearly demarcate the park area within three months and to take steps to retain the park as it is.

But things did not change while signboard of the Jalalabad Park was removed.

Mayor Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran at the time of placing the SCC budget for 2006-2007 denied his involvement in any move for construction of a commercial complex or shopping mall in the area and assured steps for keeping the park intact.

When contacted acting mayor Azam Khan said, "We are not doing any thing for commercial purpose. It will not be a commercial structure. We have decided to construct some hall rooms for holding meetings".

Khan also claimed that neither the mayor not any of the ward commissioners were involved in the alleged move for constructing a shopping mall at the park site last year.

"Rather, a powerful syndicate was active to do that, which however came to a halt at a stage", the acting mayor said.

In 1959, Hasan market was established on the land of historic Govinda Charan Park despite protests by people. The authorities at that time filled up adjoining Beka Dighi (water body) and shifted the Govinda Charan Park there. Later, it was renamed Jalalabad Park.

The then Sylhet Pourashava Chairman Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran inaugurated the Jalalabad Park in 1999.

But within years, the area became a den of drug addicts due to lack of maintenance by the then municipal authorities.