- Work stuck in Ministry of Liberation War Affairs project
- The park has been closed since 2019
- Have to wait about 3 more years
- The name of Zia Shishu park will be changed
- Children deprived of entertainment
- No progress in park work
In January 2019, Dhaka South City Corporation announced the closure of Shishu Park in Ramna (adjacent to Shahbagh) in the capital through a circular.
In the third phase, the Central Children's Park is closed to the general public to keep people safe from the overall issues and accidents of the development and modernization of the Children's Park under the Swadhinata Stambha construction project in Suhrawardy Udyan.
Although the work was supposed to be completed very soon, five years have passed but now it has not started. The DSCC said it would take two more years for the park to open. In other words, the only recreation center for children in Dhaka will have to wait for more. Moreover, the park will be renamed ‘Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy Shishu Park’.
Sources of Dhaka South City Corporation said that in the Shishu Park area, the construction of underground car parking, underground watercourse, underground underpass, walking path, and liberation war memorial is ongoing in the middle of Shishu Park by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs.
The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will start the work on DSCC's approved project after explaining the location of the children's park to the DSCC authorities.
A letter has already been sent to the ministry to take up its activities. Its activities are ongoing. After the approval of the project, the work, design, estimate preparation of the construction, and toy items are in the final stage. After the finalization, the work of appointing the contractor will be completed by inviting tenders. However, the project is scheduled to be completed by December 2026, DSCC said. According to DSCC sources, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has spent Tk 603 crore 81 lakh to implement the ‘Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy Shishu Park’ modernization project.
The program will be completed by providing a total expenditure of Tk483 crore 4 lakh 82 thousand from the government's funds and Tk120 crore 76 lakh 20 thousand taka from DSCC's funding. City Corporation is giving 20 percent of the total cost of the project. The remaining 80 percent was to be provided as a government loan. However, the entire amount is sought as a donation by South City Corporation. At that time, the Prime Minister decided to give 40 percent as a loan and the remaining 40 percent as a grant instead of doing that. Also, the area will be developed as a national hub. Experts say that the children's park will have to wait for another three years to complete. Because there is no progress in their work. The children's park at Shahbagh in the capital was one of the main means of entertainment for children in the bustling Dhaka. which has been closed for five years. Moreover, this is the only children's park in the Dhaka South City Corporation area, but the park itself is closed. By this children are deprived of entertainment. The importance of entertainment in developing the talent of the new generation is immense.
It can be seen from the surface, underground parking has been completed in some parts of the 15 acre area of Shishu Park. Some of the old rides in the park have been removed. A boundary wall is made of tin around the entire area. But there is no progress in the work of the park. Many people are coming back to Shishu Park due to ignorance.
The children's park was established in 1979 on 15 acres of land under the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation. Later the park was handed over to the then Dhaka Municipal Corporation in 1983 for management. Various rides of the children's park will be installed on both sides of the underground parking. There will be a path through the underground parking for visitors. Visitors will be able to travel in two parts through that route. Rides will be placed on both sides of this parking lot during the construction of the new children's park. Shahbag police station will also be moved for the construction of Shishu Park, they said.
According to the relevant sources, Dhaka South City Corporation Shahbagh Central Children's Park will be set up with 15 modern modern rides for the entertainment of city dwellers and children. Where previously there were 11 rides or toys. The newly installed rides are Disco Mega, Super Air Race, T Cup 9, Flying Carousels, Endeavor, Gallon, 12D Theater, Mean Coaster, Climbing Car, Bumper Car, Magic Bike, Trampoline Bed, Super Happy Swing and Water Mania will be installed.
When asked about this matter, Engineer of Mechanical Circle of Dhaka South City Corporation, Anishur Rahman said, first of all, the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will implement the work under the third phase construction project of the Swadhinata Stambha in Suhrawardy Udyan in Ramna area of the capital and the approved project work of Dhaka South City Corporation will be implemented.
After the completion of the Swadhinata Stambha construction project at Suhrawardy Udyan inside Shishu Park, the land transfer will be started. However, while the work of the Ministry of Liberation War affairs is ongoing, the design, estimation and APP approval are being processed by the DSCC for the purpose of inviting tenders and appointing contractors. Also, the transfer of police control room and Shahbagh police station is ongoing through inter-ministerial process.
ARS
