Farmgate Park turns into human hauler stand

The Farmgate Anwar Park has turned into a parking lot for human haulers, thanks to a move by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) asking these vehicles to clear off from their old parking spot at the Indira Road area.

The park had remained a constant subject of abuse as it had long been occupied by drug dealers, junkies, homeless people and sex workers. The polluted park has also been used as a venue for public events and temporary cattle shed.

As many as 30 human haulers were seen parked inside the park around 10:00 am on Saturday. The park is now being used as a passenger stand and the vehicles were seen driving in and out of the park gate.

“We are going to use the park for just one day,” said President of Human Hauler Owners Association Zakir Hasan, “We have moved in here to keep the roads clean—because the city is hosting many foreign guests.”

He was referring to foreign guests visiting the five-day 136th assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) that ends on April 5.

However, another human hauler owner told The Daily Star that they are going to use the park for three to five days.

DNCC Zonal Executive Officer Ajior Rahman told The Daily Star that the city corporation had indeed asked the human hauler owners to move their vehicles out of the Indira Road area—but had not asked them to use the park.

“The park falls under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department—so we cannot take any action,” he added.