Home ›› 31 Aug 2022 ›› Nation
A conscious initiative of the administration can turn the Muktijoddha Park built on the banks of the Kirtankhola River in Barishal city into a source of tourism income and an entertainment centre for the public, said residents of the city.
According to the locals, the park needs security and more open cultural zones to attract more tourists.
Barishal City Corporation (BCC) sources said former mayor Shaukat Hossain Hiron laid the foundation stone for Muktijoddha Park on March 26, 2011. But its work started in 2010. About Tk 3 crore was spent for the initial construction of the 2km long park by the marine workshop area on the Kirtankhola river bank.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially inaugurated the park on March 21, 2012. Since then, the park has become an attraction for city dwellers. Many people spend their time walking around the park in the morning or afternoon.
There are many illegal shops and establishments at the gate of the park adjacent to the DC Ghat area. The slum dwellers living nearby dry their clothes inside the park, which paints a negative picture of the otherwise beautiful park.
One of the other gates is sometimes blocked by labourers carrying goods to the warehouses nearby. Some people leave their goats and sheep to graze around the park.
The park lacks security and other facilities like toilets. Due to a lack of security, visitors do not feel safe staying there after dusk. And a lack of basic facilities is also inconvenient for many.
Abdus Sohanan, a college student visiting the park, complained that miscreants often go there to harass female visitors.
“The park is in need of security guards. Installing public toilets would also be great in case of emergencies,” he said.
Khan Mohammad, a cloth merchant in Chawkbazar city, often visits the park for a walk. He said that most of the street lamps in the park are broken.
“It is not safe to stay here after dusk as many unsavoury people dwell in the dark. If the slums were removed and security details were added, this park can become a major tourist attraction for the city,” he said.
Barishal Muktijoddha Sangsad Commander Mohiuddin Manik (Bir Pratik) said they had been demanding the construction of the park for over four decades.
“It is also important to have some sculptures or museums related to the memory of the liberation war. An open stage and better seating areas were to be added along with ensuring round-the-clock security,” he said.
He also said that he has heard complaints about misdemeanours being committed in the park, adding that it is the responsibility of the administration concerned to preserve and protect the lives and property of the visitors.
Barishal Cultural Coordination Council President Nazmul Hossain Akash said the park area along the Kirtankhola river bank becomes a sanctuary for drug dealers and addicts after dusk.
“There should be an open stage and a public toilet with electricity and water facilities along with security guards for safety. BCC requires permission for any cultural functions held in the park but all citizens have the right to open literary and cultural practices,” he said.
Locals visit the park with their families to enjoy quality time with their loved ones. Holding literary and cultural events at Muktijoddha Park will be a source of entertainment for the visitors.
Cultural personalities Syed Dulal and Kajal Ghosh, poet Dipankar Chakraborty, and many others flock to the park to get some relief from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the open air of the Kirtankhola river.
However, after dusk, the environment of the park becomes unsafe to roam, they said. They also demand the administration construct a state-of-the-art open stage as well as ensure the safety of the park visitors.
Swapan Kumar Das, public relations officer of BCC, said the current mayor has plans to modernise the park which will be implemented soon.
“The city corporation will provide full cooperation for any cultural programmes organised at the park but they must take permission for such events,” he said.
