Suhrawardy Uddyan land for golf course ?
18 November 2007, 18:00 PM
Swagata Bhattacharjee, Azimpur, Dhaka
Photo: STAR
Recently, the government decided to hand over 25 acres of land of Suhrawardy Uddyan to Dhaka Club for golfing. But Suhrawardy Uddyan is a place of huge importance. It is witness to our Liberation War. We can't let this historic place to be the personal property of any club. This should be a public place. Everyday a lot of people go to Suhrawardy Uddyan, especially in the evening. The government can't take away this breathing place of public. So this poor decision must be withdrawn immediately.
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The government has recently allocated 25 acres of land of Suhrawardy Uddyan to Dhaka Club to be used as their golf course. The Dhaka Club authorities have claimed that it was their land which has been reverted back to them. It is not true. Historian Prof. Muntasir Mamoon has already refuted the claim. Urban expert Prof. Nazrul Islam is also skeptical about the government move (Prothom Alo, 5/11/07). Renowned urban historian Prof. S.U. Ahmed and noted urban planner Prof. K.A. Mowla's writings (Prof. Ahmed's 'Dacca A Study in Urban History & Development', Curzon Press, London; Prof. Mowla's 'Stylistic Evolution of Architecture in Bangladesh', in ASB Journal, 45[1]:31-58) provide ample proof that during the colonial period the European Club (Andaghar) or present Dhaka Club was shifted from Bahadur Shah Park area to Ramna (meaning: lawn in Persian), the present location, owned by erstwhile Mughal aristocrats (Mahalla Chistian & Mahalla Sujatpur). It was an elite club where the natives were not allowed. Though in independent Bangladesh the character of the club has changed much, but still it maintains its elitist character. On the contrary, the Suhrawardy Uddyan is an unrestricted public space. Cities, for their vitality, need these types of open spaces, which in no circumstances should be restricted. The Dhaka Club authorities have also claimed that gradually lot of harmful encroachments have taken place in the area over the years, like Engineers Institution Building, Roads & Highways Buildings, Police control room, Tennis Federation, Shishu Park, and so on. It is true and if we go by the historical facts, Dhaka Club itself is also one of such encroachments over Mughal Badshai Bagh or Ramna! Without going into the controversies, I believe, as far as possible, Ramna/ Suhrawardy Uddyan should be restored to its original open public space character and made accessible to general public. It will be for the greater interest of Dhaka's urban life.
Md Mamun-ur-Rashid, Elephant Road, Dhaka
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We have come to know that a golf course is going to be constructed at Suhrawardy Uddyan by Dhaka Club; its a matter of great concern to the city dwellers. The said location is a historically important place as well as recreation centre of the city, but the golf course will ruin it. A good golf course needs hundreds of acres of land, but the total area may not cover the aforesaid project, and it will cause additional traffic jam because of the vehicles perked by the golfers. There is no record of taking up such a project in a mega city.
Engr Ashutosh Mondal, On e-mail
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