Death of the lone children’s park

Townspeople's demand for a separate children's park has not been fulfilled for decades.  

As a result, children of Tangail town are being deprived of healthy entertainment.

Tangail municipality, covering over 29 square kilometres area, was established during the British era in 1887.

The municipality, which is divided in 18 wards, has a population of nearly 2 lakhs. Of them, about one third are children.

In 1969, a year before Tangail upgraded to a district, the then municipal authorities set up a children's park beside the Louhajang river, said Ismail Hossain Selim, president of Tangail Sangrahashala.

However, the town's only children park lost its attraction after Chhoy Ani Bazar, then main kitchen market of the town, was shifted to the park premises in 1977, he said.

The kitchen market, which was supposed to be moved to its previous place after completion of its reformation work within six months, was made permanent there in 1989 and named Park Market, Selim said.

Rafiqul Islam, a resident of Purbo Adalatpara, said although a children's park was established in Gharinda area during the 90s, within couple of years that park turned into a den for unethical activities.

Later, two more small parks for the children were setup in the town, but those too remained unusable due to lack of proper maintenance.

"The children of Tangail town badly need a separate park for healthy environment," he added.

Hafizur Rahman Swapan, panel mayor of Tangail municipality, said they are aware of the matter and looking for a suitable place for the construction of a new park for the children.

Talas Khan, a children organiser, said the District Council had installed several ordinary rides on a ground beside the district lake for the local slum children, but all the rides got damaged within a few years.

The place has now turned into a parking spot for trucks, he added.

Contacted, Tangail Municipality Mayor SM Sirajul Haque Khan Alamgir said they have sought a piece of land from the district administration for construction of a new children's park.