70 lakh people, only 9 parks

With Chattogram city running short of recreational places, its dwellers are being deprived of passing their leisure healthily. There are only nine parks in Chattogram city for around 70 lakh dwellers. They are namely -- Biplob Udyan, Jatishangha Park, Laldighi Park, Butterfly Park, Karnaphuli Park, Swadhinata Park (popularly known as Mini Bangladesh), Kazir Dewri Shishu Park, Concord Foy's Lake Amusement Park and Jamboree Park.

The most agonisingly constant trait of a city is that it's fast-paced, with little to no space for its inhabitants to take a break. This is why parks within a city are of such great significance. To inspect the state of recreational spaces and amenities within the port city, 
Arun Bikash Dey, our staff correspondent from Chattogram, took a look at the nine parks namely -- Biplob Udyan, Jatishangha Park, Laldighi Park, Butterfly Park, Karnaphuli Park, Swadhinata Park, Kazir Dewri Shishu Park, Concord Foy's Lake Amusement Park and Jamboree Park. What he finds is that the port city is significantly lacking in providing residents with healthy avenues for recreation. At the same time, there's hope too as some of the parks are being maintained properly and providing much needed respite to residents. 

Of these, the first three are run by Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) while Jamboree Park is run by Public Works Department. Visitors don't have to pay to access these four parks.

However, the Jatishangha Park and Biplob Udyan don't draw in as many visitors due to their conditions.

The rest of the parks are run privately.

Contacted, Bishwajit Ghosh, deputy manager (marketing) of Concord Foy's Lake Amusement Park, said a good number of visitors come to the park every day, happy with the park's arrangement.

Although privately-run parks are doing well, residents still have to buy tickets to gain entrance there. As a result, low- and middle-income groups are not able to access those as much as they would like to.

Moreover, many of these recreational places are not visitor-friendly anymore.

Take for instance the Jatishangha Park and Biplob Udyan run by CCC, which supposedly have "free access".

The Jatishangha Park, located in Panchlaish area, has been left in a sorry state for almost seven years, while Biplob Udyan located in Sholashahar area, has turned into a commercial space.   

Shahedul Azam, a resident of Panchlaish area, went to Jatishangha Park last Saturday. He said he couldn't enter the park seeing its sorry state. "Soil was piled up all around, as if, it was not a park, rather a dump," he said.

Jahirul Islam, a private job holder, said the park was once the most sought-after place for city dwellers.  "There was once a well-kept garden, a small water body with fishes, sitting arrangements, a walkway -- but they're all gone now."

On the other hand, Biplob Udyan has nothing to offer visitors for recreation. The park has no boundary wall, for which it becomes unsafe after sundown, said locals. 

At present, there are many fast-food shops, built occupying a significant space with the permission of authorities. A total of 20 shops stand in a row.

"It's not a park now, but rather a food corner," said Dipankar Roy, who came to visit the park with his daughter.

According to sources, the park's "ruin" started on November 28, 2018, when CCC signed a contract with two private organisations to develop it. They built shops very quickly to rent those out in exchange for a substantial advanced payment.

Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, convener of Public Health Rights Protection Committee, Chattogram said, "A public park should not be handed over to private organisations. As Biplob Udyan's fate has been handed over to businessmen, [they] would prioritise business over public service."

Social Scientist Prof Dr Anupam Sen, also vice chancellor of Premier University Chattogram, said the port city should have at least 20 parks and more open space and playgrounds.

Contacted, CCC mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said a project has been initiated to renovate Jatishangha Park, while initiatives to develop Biplob Udyan would be taken soon.