Parks and the city's environment

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It is not known whether a 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 10 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 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 glaring case in point is the Osmany Uddayan. Located in the heart of the capital and adjoining its busiest and most densely populated parts, this ground could be a frequently visited one by people wanting to escape for a while from the din and bustle of city life. But a photograph in a daily newspaper showed how the trees which were planted here long ago and came to maturity, are dying from lack of care. The place is also a feared one for any decent person. No planned care of the Uddayan is noted ; squatters of different types have made it their abode by building shanty dwellings inside it. Drug addicts and muggers are the most frequent visitors to it. Not only in the Osmany Uddayan, similar conditions are known to exist in greater parts of the National Botanical Gardens and inside the Mirpur Zoo which originally had also a park like character. There are small community parks - specially in the old city - which have been spoiled in like fashion by intruders and anti-social elements.
The quality of life in the city is deteriorating fast and one of the main reasons for the deterioration is the shocking neglect in maintaining the parks. The parks must be freed from any activity that degrade them and brought back to their beatific conditions through regular and systematic care.
Shamim Azad
Nayapaltan, Dhaka