Murder of Gulshan Lake
Saturday, 31 May 2014
Gulshan Lake, situated in a posh area of the city, is in a critical condition. 'Gulshan', a Persian word, meaning flower garden but ours is nothing but a filthy sanitary and washing pool. Rajuk had the moral responsibility of beautifying it and retaining it as a flower garden surrounding the lake. In contrast, one erstwhile chairman is reported to have built a multi-storey building a few feet away alongside the lake. Otherwise it is surrounded on both the east and west shores with slums and shanties. For these residents, the Gulsman Lake is their washroom, toilet as well as a source of household water. Only certain stretches alongside Baridhara, across the US embassy building is protected with boundary fencing and is a decent piece of open green land.
Can the government not do this, all around the perimeter of the Gulshan Lake, and put up secure permanent open rail fencing all around, with a few gates having security guards, so that it becomes nice greenery for the residents to walk and spend their leisure? If there is a will there is a way. I am sure if the appropriate authorities maintain this greenery, they can justify charging say taka ten per month, per flat or residence, to recover the costs for security and cleanliness. If an act of parliament is needed to get this done, I am sure none will oppose this.
I will appeal to the government to restore the 'garden-lake' environment all around the Gulshan lake, so that it is restored as a garden lake, and becomes a beautiful area of greenery of our capital city. If the government desires this seriously and sincerely, it can easily be done.
A Gulshan resident
Dhaka