Vitiated lungs of the city

It is not known whether a proper study was conducted to know the ratio of parks to residents in Dhaka city. But any sensible person can guess estimate that the same must be a poor one very much in disfavour of the residents. But parks are like the lungs of a city, specially a huge city of over 14 million inhabitants which is Dhaka today. The only sight of greenery or touch with nature, a whiff of fresh air, glimpses of birds and foliages -- all very soothing for the body and soul -- may be expected in the reserved areas called parks. But a major environmental problem for Dhaka's residents is that its parks are few compared to the need. And what is worse is that among the ones which are there, some are too shabby and infested by elements that vitiate the expectation of scenic beauty, peace and tranquility that people can rightly expect but do not get from visiting such a park. A number of public parks or gardens that have somehow managed to still exist are now in a shambles. One can cite here the cases of Osmany Uddayan, Balda Garden, and the ones at Mirpur, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Mohammad and a number of other places. Such places can otherwise be a visited by people wanting to escape for a while from the din and bustle of city life. But the trees which were planted in many of those places long ago and came to maturity, seem to be dying from lack of care. They are also a feared ones for any decent person. No planned care of such places is noted; squatters of different types have made the same their abode by building shanty dwellings inside it. Drug addicts and muggers are the most frequent visitors to these places. The conditions in greater parts of the National Botanical Gardens and inside the Mirpur Zoo which originally had also a park-like character are likewise in a pitiable state owing to steer negligence. There are also small community parks - specially in the old city - which have been spoiled in a similar fashion by intruders and anti-social elements. As such, the quality of life in the city has been deteriorating fast and one of the main reasons for the deterioration is the shocking neglect in operations and maintenance of the parks. The parks must be freed from any activity that degrade them and need to be brought back to their beautific conditions through regular and systematic care. Shamim Azad Nayapaltan, Dhaka