BCC takes over children's park from AL leaders

A big signboard hung by the Barisal City Corporation at the entrance of the Children's Park in the city after its takeover from the Planet World on Saturday. PHOTO: STAR

A large number of BCC employees including its Chief Executive Officer, ward commissioners and BNP men took control of park at about 3 pm on the day, hung a big signboard and deployed BCC guards.

The AL leaders termed the takeover "an act of revenge" by the BCC Mayor and violation of lease terms.

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'Planet World', created on the lone public park in the city, was inaugurated on January 5, 2002.

The 'Planet World' was owned by city Barisal city AL Convener Shawkat Hossain Hiron as its Managing Director and party leader Salauddin Kabir as its Director.

They claimed that 'Planet World' took 30 years' lease of 8.5

acres BCC lands in two phases on January 16 and May 11 in 2000 on annual payment of Tk 1.65 lakh as rent.

The area included the lone public park, adjacent United Nations Children Park and an abandoned bus terminal.

As per the lease terms, Planet World was supposed to establish a zoo and a botanical garden on the lands.

After the first BCC election on March 2003, the newly elected BCC authorities found "gross irregularities" in the lease contact. The contract was also termed "controversial" as it was not duly approved by "proper authorities of BCC and ministries concerned".

At a general meeting of the BCC held on March 3, 2004, the lease

contracts was cancelled and a notice was served on the Planet World on Saturday to hand over the premises to the BCC within seven days.

But the BCC took control of the premises ahead of expiry of the notice period.

The takeover evoked a sharp reaction from the AL leaders, who termed it "illegal and violation of the lease terms and the BCC notice also".

They said, as per the lease terms, BCC has no right to evict them without prior notice and giving compensation.

They said they have appointed more than 70 staff and invested Tk 2.75 core by taking loan from Pubali Bank and created recreation facilities. They were working to establish a zoo as per the terms, they added.

Mayor Majibur Rahman Sarwar MP, who is also president of district BNP, at a hurriedly called press conference at the BCC Bhavan at about 5 PM on Saturday said the action was taken "in public interest as per an unanimous decision of a BCC general meeting and provisions of Section 72 (ga) of BCC Act".

Legal experts were consulted before the takeover, he said.

He alleged that there were "irregularities" in the lease. Trees were felled and lands more than provided by the so-called lease were grabbed but no attempt was made to set up a botanical garden and a zoo, he alleged.

BCC will reopen the park as soon as possible. It could be leased to interested parties, even to the Planet World authorities, on short term contract, he said.