A place of allure and respite

Located in the Agrabad area, the Jamboree Park in Chattogram city has become a sought-after place for residents.

Run by the Public Works Department (PWD), the park has drawn in visitors since its inauguration day on September 8, 2018.

People from different walks of life come to the park every day from 4:00pm and stay till evening; even on the holidays. According to visitors, the park grows even more attractive in the evening due to its dazzling lamp lights.

At a cost of Tk 18 crore, PWD converted the abandoned Jamboree field into a park in an 8.55-acre area. The park has a 50,000 square feet pool-like water body at the centre, 8,000 metres of walkways, and two public toilets.

Due to the pandemic, the park was closed for two years. However, at present, the park gained new life as visitors are flocking there in droves.

Tahmina Akter, a resident of Agrabad area, said earlier there was no park in the greater Agrabad area where visitors had free access.

At a cost of Tk 18 crore, PWD converted the abandoned Jamboree field into a park in an 8.55-acre area. The park has a 50,000 square feet pool-like water body at the centre, 8,000 metres of walkways, and two public toilets. It also has two water fountains within the reservoir.

Permanent benches have been set up around the edges. Around 10,000 trees of 65 species have been planted in the park due to its natural beauty.

For security, 14 closed-circuit cameras have been installed. The entire park has been raised three feet above the road to protect it from rain and tidal water.

Visitors can get inside through six gates -- two on the north and south side respectively, one in front of a 10-storey building on the east side, and one in front of the Agrabad Ma O Shishu Hospital on the west.

The park was inaugurated by the then Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain. Visitors have thronged the park ever since, making it one of the best amusement parks in the city.