Children to get Laldighi back

Even though the historic Laldighi Maidan was renovated over a year ago, the ground hasn't been officially reopened, depriving children of a place to play.

The Education Engineering Department (EED) implemented the Tk 4 crore project, which started on February 2020 and was completed last year, said officials.

Preferring anonymity, an EED official said although the renovation work was completed over a year ago, the ground wasn't officially inaugurated.

The project was themed after the country's most historic moments, including, anti-British movement, Language Movement, six-point demand movement, mass uprising of 1969 and the Liberation War.

Although the ground is known as Laldighi Maidan, the field officially belongs to Government Muslim High School, Chattogram. The school's students and children of Laldighi and adjacent areas use this ground for recreation.

While visiting the ground last week, this correspondent saw four sides of the ground covered with corrugated tins.

"For two years, we could not play here," said Hasan Al Baker, a ninth grader of  KC Dey Road area.

"Many rallies during the Liberation War were held in Laldighi. It's also a place where Bangabandhu addressed rallies," said seventy-year-old Tapos Mitra.

"I'm glad that the government took the initiative to renovate this ground. However, I also think that the ground should be open to the children soon," he said.

To commemorate the declaration of six-point demand by Bangabandhu, a stage, named "Chhoy Dafa Mancha" has been built on the ground.

There are also 18 terracotta artworks depicting historic moments that the country witnessed. There are also many portraits of historical figures, and a temporary Shaheed Minar.

Besides, there's also a sitting arrangement, walkway and a park zone for children.

Contacted, Pradip Kumar Sarkar, EED executive engineer, Chattogram, said 36 benches have been set up on the ground along with a 368-metre walkway.

Asked when the ground would be inaugurated, Pradip said, "Higher officials may know about the exact date."

Contacted, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, deputy minister for education, said the prime minister is scheduled to inaugurate the field on October 17. "It was scheduled to be opened on October 2, but we didn't receive a confirmation," he said.