Twenty-four environmental organisations on Thursday formed a human chain, demanding the North City Corporation cancel leases of parks and playgrounds to protect citizens’ rights.Â
Speakers said that despite the inadequate number of parks and playgrounds in the city, several commercial clubs had been building permanent structures for commercial purposes, grabbing open spaces, including Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Park and Dhanmondi Playground, said a press release issued by Save the Environment Movement. Â
The human chain was formed at around 3:00pm in front of the DNCC office at Gulshan 2.
They said that the DNCC appointed Youth Club as operator to manage Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Park defying the Playground, Open Space, Park and Natural Water Reservoir Conservation Act 2000 and court’s order.
The DNCC leased out five other playgrounds to companies in the name of operators.Â
Their other demands included formation of a committee to issue an ordinance for the amendment of the Playground, Open Space, Park, and Natural Water Reservoir Conservation Act 2000, the formulation of guidelines for managing parks and playgrounds, and the creation of a comprehensive list of all parks and playgrounds in the country.Â
The organisations included Save the Environment Movement, Earth Foundation, Aid Foundation and Citizen Network.
