Panthakunja Park coming to life

Panthakunja Park, a place of greenery in the heart of the capital, is finally set to reopen partially after six years of the tug of war over its ownership with the developer of the Elevated Expressway.
The park located between Bangla Motor and Kawran Bazar intersections will be opened to public anytime next month, as renovation work has neared completion, according to the people familiar with the matter.
A recent visit to the park revealed that walkways, drainage system and entry gate were being prepared while the site was cordoned within boundary. An old tower at the northern part was also renovated.
"Grass roots have already been planted so that they are fully grown when the park is ready to welcome people from all walks of life," said a worker preferring anonymity.
"It should not take more than one month to complete the remaining renovation work that includes installation of some sitting arrangements," he added.
The northern part of the park is now getting prepared while the large area in the southern part is now reserved for elevated expressway constructing machinery. Three or four pillars of the expressway will be constructed in the middle of the park. A ramp will touch the Saarc Fountain intersection from the western side of Panthakunja and as well as another ramp will go towards Katabon.
According to sources, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) took a mega project, known as 'Jol Sobujer Dhaka' to renovate 30 parks and playgrounds for the city dwellers under its jurisdiction in 2017.
The Panthakunja Park renovation programme was incorporated in the project.
However, the First Dhaka Elevated Expressway authorities acquired the land to build ramps and control centre there.
Consequently, the park's renovation work left abandoned for an indefinite period in 2018.
The greenery turned into a waste dumping yard, while antisocial activities also occurred there, causing nuisance for the residents as well as wayfarers.
The recent visits also revealed that the temporary tin-fence blocked majority of footpaths near Kawranbazar intersection, causing serious trouble for commuters.
"I don't know what is going on inside the fence at present, but it has been many years the area has become a trouble for us," said Mahbubul Islam Nishu, a resident of nearby Kathalbagan area.
He lamented over the loss of the lone jogging place for the residents in neighbourhood as well as the felling of 250 trees.
Talking to the FE, Khairul Baker, superintending engineer of DSCC's Environment, Climate and Disaster Management Circle, said they have been irrationally criticised for the dilemma over the park.
"There has been a long story how DSCC got back the land as there has been a serious dispute over the ownership," he said.
Plans to build some concrete structures have been scrapped to cope with the land they got, he said.
"We are at the final stage of accomplishing the development work on the northern part of the park," said Mr Baker, adding that it will bring some sort of relief for Dhaka people.
The initial allocation for the park's renovation was Tk 170 million for the entire park spanning over 15 bigha of land, he said.
"The accomplishment of the entire park completely relies on the construction of the elevated expressway," said DSCC officials, adding that it would look like a guitar-shape garden above.
Sources said a roman architecture amphitheatre will be built on the southern part creating scope for cultural programmes. The structure's base was already put in place.

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