N'ganj playfield endangered
Speakers at a human chain in front of Narayanganj Press Club at Chashara yesterday vowed to protect the Ice Factory ground (Borof Kol Maath) at any cost.
They said there is no alternative to playgrounds as the playgrounds play a vital role in protecting youths from getting involved in antisocial activities such as terrorism and drugs.
“When the prime minister in her speeches has been recommending building one playground in each union, a vested quarter has been trying to turn the Ice Factory ground into a [residential] quarter,” they added.
“We will protect this ground by any means, and if necessary, we will shed our blood”, vowed the locals.
The participants of the human chain later brought out a procession in the city to press home their demand.
National football team players Nazrul Islam, Sohel Rana, Alauddin, general secretary of Pollster Club Kamaruzzaman and Mohammad Sumon were present among others.
The speakers said, though the historic Ice Factory Ground at Nagar Khanpur on the bank of the Shitalakkhya river is under BIWTA, locals have been using it as a playground before the independence era.
Former player of the national football team Samrat Hossain Emily, known as Maradona of Bengal, played in this ground. Captain of present national football team Nazrul Islam and striker Sohel Rana also played in this ground, they also said.
Former footballer Isleh Uddin said, players are being barred from entering the ground over past few days. If the children and the youth do not have access to a playground they may turn to drugs.
BIWTA joint director AKM Arifuddin said, the BIWTA is owner of the ground as they had purchased it. The locals had been able to play in ground as it was left unused without having any project planned on it.
An inland container terminal, as pledged by the prime minister, will be built here.
Although a foundation stone for a housing project was laid there, but the project could not be implemented as there was no fund allocation for it, he added.
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