Staff Reporter :
The tug of war between the police administration and the environmentalists on the issue of Tentultala playground in the city’s Kalabagan area is still undecided.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said the Tentultala field was never a playground. Rather it was an abandoned property under the authority of the Public Works Department (PWD).
“The place has been allocated for the construction of a police station through proper process. It was never a playground rather an abandoned property.” he told the journalists at his office in the secretariat after holding a meeting with a group of environmentalists.
About the necessity of the construction of a police station at the Tentultala playground, the minister said, “Most of the new police stations in the capital are housed in the rented buildings. This matter causes trouble for the police forces in their work. So we requested the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner to provide lands for the police stations.
We talked about for a piece of land for the police station in Kalabagan. Later this place was handed over to Dhaka Metropolitan Police authority after payment.”
“We have come to know that the local children used to play games here. People used to come here for talks only. Now all are talking about the place. Our statement is clear. The Kalabagan Police Station needs a place for a building. We have obtained it. If we get better options or City Mayor or others can make some other place, we will consider it. For the time it is for the police station,” he explained.
About the continuity of the construction work, the minister said, “It’s a different thing whether construction work will continue or not. As it has been allocated for police force, it belongs to the police.”
“Those (environmentalists) who came to me for an alternative. They requested for stopping the construction work. I told them to look for a better place so that the police station can be construction and the children can play for recreation,” he added.
Drawing attention of the Prime Minister’s directives to save fields and water-bodies, the minister said, “The area of the land is about 20 acres. It’s not a big space. It cannot be a field for football or tennis as this place is very small and not so attractive. As they have requested us, we will see.”
Asked about the public’s sentiments, he said, “We need a police station. People should realise it. If I fail to provide security to people, then the sentiment will go against us. We didn’t select the place. We have obtained it through acquisition.”
After meeting with Home Minister, human rights activist Khushi Kabir said, “We wanted to stop the construction work. We want the Eid prayer here. He (home minister) said, he will discuss it with the prime minister.”
BELA Executive Director Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, “The Home Minister has also felt the necessity of the playground. But they have paid Tk 27 crore. Then we said the money is in the government treasury. There are other abandoned properties in the area.”
“We don’t want the police and people face to face. The Eid prayer will not be possible as the wall has been erected. So it should be stopped, she said.
Meanwhile, human rights activists, environmentalists and locals have warned of a strong movement if the Tentultala playground is not returned to the locals and children for recreational purposes.
