CCC mayor wants to build ‘green park’ on Ctg Circuit House ground

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Shahadat Hossain today expressed his desire to develop a "green park" on the spacious open ground in front of the historic old Chattogram Circuit House.

The mayor voiced his interest while participating in a gathering and human chain programme held in front of the Circuit House ground this afternoon.

The human chain was organised by the Forum for Planned Chattogram, a non-political voluntary citizens' group, demanding the declaration of the spacious open ground in front of the historic old Chattogram Circuit House as an "open courtyard for all citizens".

Expressing solidarity with the demand, the mayor said, "Today we stand here with a very heavy heart. We have repeatedly said that we want a planned Chattogram city. The master plan of Chattogram Development Authority also mentioned a green field there."

Shahadat Hossain, who has already written a letter to the ministry concerned over the ground, said, "Give us the field to the city corporation. We will build a green park here. People will come there, walk, and roam. I wrote to them [Ministry of Defence officials] with such thoughts, but they have not responded to me till now. I have also met the secretary of the Ministry of Defence in this regard."

"But now I hear that there will be a hospital on the ground. I would like to request them, I have nine acres of land (of the City Corporation) in Kalurghat. Take that nine acres of land and build a hospital there; give me this land, and I will build a green park here. I am making you an offer. There cannot be a better offer than this. If you build a hospital [in Kalurghat], the neglected people there will get services."

Poet and journalist Abul Momen also spoke at the event. Professor Muhammad Sekandar Khan, president of the Forum for Planned Chattogram, presided over the human chain.