Civic bodies demand Barisal park reopening, criticise BCC

Idle recreation facilities at the deserted Planet World, snapped yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The BCC authorities on Sunday took over and closed the park, saying the 30-yerar lease of the area to Planet World during Awami League rule was "unlawful".

The Planet World, owned by two influential AL leaders, created recreation facilities which attracted people in large numbers, even from outside the city.

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Following the closure, the BCC mayor called a view-exchange meeting on the issue on Monday and invited people from all sections to discuss the matter.

But the meeting turned out to be a gathering of BNP men and its supporters.

The speakers there praised the Mayor for the park's takeover by the BCC. The meeting failed to arrive at an acceptable solution to reopen the park.

The meeting was not attended by human rights activists and non-partisan persons acceptable to all sections of people, meeting sources said.

Mayor Mazibur Rahaman Sarwar M P addressed the meeting first. He defended his action and claimed that the park would be maintained as before and reopened soon.

He told the meeting that the park was "occupied illegally" during Awami league through an "unlawful" contract. Other speakers supported his views.

Meanwhile the Nagorik Parishad, a people's forum and other local bodies, have demanded immediate reopening of the park.

Local AL leaders in a statement alleged that BCC action was taken only because the Managing Director of Planet World was an AL man.

The meeting however formed a 101-member committee with the Mayor as its head to "protect and recover all BCC lands property". The meeting was addressed by, among others, former municipal chairman Golam Mowla, former president of Barisal Press Club S M Ikbal, DR. Habibur Rahaman, Jamat-e-Islami Moazzem Hossain Helal, Member Secretary of district Muktijoddha Sangsad Muid Khan Khokon, Dr Mizanur Rahaman, Mohiuddin Manik, advocate Fani Bhushan Das and Anis Talukder.

The gates of the park were opened on Monday but recreation facilities could not be used as Planet World employees who operated the facilities were absent.

The park was taken under Section 72(c) of the Barisal City Corporation Act.

Shawkat Hossain Hiron, Managing Director of the Planet World and convenor of city AL, has said he will go to court as BCC violated the lease terms.

Ahsan Habib Kamal, expelled city BNP president and ex-Mayor of BCC, who was a signatory to the lease contact on behalf of BCC said, the contract was "fully legal under BCC Act"

He said leasing the park does not need approval from the ministry or any other authorities. Such approval is needed only in case of sale or permanent lease, he said.