Open spaces

Unfortunately not a single park has been made after Suhrawardy Udyan and Ramna Park though Dhaka is increasing in area, each day

Dhaka fares poorly on availability of open spaces, compared to cities in the region and the rest of the world. Open spaces provide recreational areas for residents and help to enhance the beauty and environmental quality of any urban area. Open spaces are considered as ‘oxygen’ for any big city. Unfortunately, once a city known for its lush parks and gardens, Dhaka has been transformed into a haphazard concrete jungle. Even two decades back, there were numerous open spaces in Dhaka.
At present though the capital, for its more than 16 million inhabitants, does not have adequate number of playgrounds and parks. Dhaka has been fighting a losing battle for open spaces over the last few years thanks to a burgeoning population on the one hand and encroachments on the other. According to speakers at a recently held seminar on the subject it was revealed that instead of the 25 per cent area that should be allocated for open spaces in the city the capital only has eight per cent.
And this meagre space is also diminishing because of encroachment by various quarters. Public spaces became very lucrative to the grabbers when the city’s rapid growth began in the late 80s and land prices went skyrocketing. What is most unfortunate is the fact that even public organisations are also encroaching upon open spaces. The other challenges to open spaces in the city are misuse, abuse and neglect. Even the footpaths are not spared.
In most megacities across the world, sidewalks are the domain of pedestrians. But Dkaka is not like most megacities; nor are its sidewalks for that matter. Its footpaths are the realm of street hawkers, beggars, encroachers, food stalls and seating areas for roadside establishments and advertisement billboards. Experts warn of the psychological impact of children growing up without having anywhere to play outdoors or come together as a community. There will be catastrophic effects. Too many children in Dhaka are growing up isolated, self-centred and emotionally vulnerable.
Unfortunately not a single park has been made after Suhrawardy Udyan and Ramna Park though Dhaka is increasing in area, each day. Against this backdrop, every inch of these places should be protected strictly. The playground, open space, park and natural reservoir conservation act 2000 states that every inch of these places will be considered as protected areas. No landscape changes can be done of these areas. However these laws are being flagrantly abused regularly.

Open spaces

Unfortunately not a single park has been made after Suhrawardy Udyan and Ramna Park though Dhaka is increasing in area, each day

Dhaka fares poorly on availability of open spaces, compared to cities in the region and the rest of the world. Open spaces provide recreational areas for residents and help to enhance the beauty and environmental quality of any urban area. Open spaces are considered as oxygen for any big city. Unfortunately, once a city known for its lush parks and gardens, Dhaka has been transformed into a haphazard concrete jungle. Even two decades back, there were numerous open spaces in Dhaka. At present though the capital, for its more than 16 million inhabitants, does not have adequate number of playgrounds and parks. Dhaka has been fighting a losing battle for open spaces over the last few years thanks to a burgeoning population on the one hand and encroachments on the other. According to speakers at a recently held seminar on the subject it was revealed that instead of the 25 per cent area that should be allocated for open spaces in the city the capital only has eight per cent. And this meagre space is also diminishing because of encroachment by various quarters. Public spaces became very lucrative to the grabbers when the citys rapid growth began in the late 80s and land prices went skyrocketing. What is most unfortunate is the fact that even public organisations are also encroaching upon open spaces. The other challenges to open spaces in the city are misuse, abuse and neglect. Even the footpaths are not spared. In most megacities across the world, sidewalks are the domain of pedestrians. But Dkaka is not like most megacities; nor are its sidewalks for that matter. Its footpaths are the realm of street hawkers, beggars, encroachers, food stalls and seating areas for roadside establishments and advertisement billboards. Experts warn of the psychological impact of children growing up without having anywhere to play outdoors or come together as a community. There will be catastrophic effects. Too many children in Dhaka are growing up isolated, self-centred and emotionally vulnerable. Unfortunately not a single park has been made after Suhrawardy Udyan and Ramna Park though Dhaka is increasing in area, each day. Against this backdrop, every inch of these places should be protected strictly. The playground, open space, park and natural reservoir conservation act 2000 states that every inch of these places will be considered as protected areas. No landscape changes can be done of these areas. However these laws are being flagrantly abused regularly.