PM instructs to withdraw construction of police station on Tetultala playground

Amid resistance from environmentalists and locals, the government has withdrawn the decision to construct Kalabagan Police Station on Tetultala playground – at Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's instruction.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal made the announcement at a press conference today.

The playground will be open to everyone but it will be under the jurisdiction of Kalabagan police, the home minister added. 

On April 24, Kalabagan police picked up Ratna, who has been leading protests to preserve Tetultala playground, along with her son Mohammad Isha Abdullah. Police released the mother and son around 13 hours later, with an undertaking that she would not get involved in any protests to protect the playground.

The next day, green organisations and rights bodies demanded that the government keep the Tetultala playground open to all and stop the construction of a police station there.

On January 31, Dhaka Deputy Commissioner's Office handed over the playground to Dhaka Metropolitan Police for constructing a building for Kalabagan Police Station. At present, a rented place on 30 North Road is being used as the police station.

Over the years, Tetultala playground, which covers one bigha of land, has been in use for multiple purposes. It has been used as a playground, Eidgah and a place for namaz-e-janaza.