Eminent citizens representing different environmental organisations have urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to immediately intervene in saving the Dhanmondi Club ground from “grabbers” who are now using the name of Sheikh Jamal to put their ill motives into action.
In a press conference held at a city hotel yesterday, Dr Jamilur Reza Chowdhury said as per the master plan of the capital, the ground of Dhanmondi Club should remain as an open space for the residents of Dhanmondi.
“It is unfortunate that the ground has now been made off limits to the common people,” he said, adding that people from all walks of life should have access to the ground as their basic right.
Prof Nazrul Islam at the press conference urged the Prime Minister to take necessary steps in this regard.
“A quarter is using the name of a family member of Bangabandhu. It is clear that the ground cannot belong to a club or organisation. People involved with the process are tarnishing the image of the Bangabandhu family,” he said.
Architect Iqbal Habib, the joint secretary of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, said Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club doesn’t have any legal grounds to support their cause.
On March 15 in 2011, he said, the High Court declared illegal all the infrastructures on the playground and asked the DSCC to demolish all the illegal infrastructures within 15 days.
“But nothing has been done in this regard. DSCC has filed appeal against the verdict. And the ground has been made off limits to the residents for the last two and a half years,” he added.
Barrister Sara Hossain said they will revive the legal procedures from today.
“We will resume the legal procedures as the court ruling has not been implemented. As Sheikh Jamal president Monjur Kader, one of the defendants, has not yet responded to the show-cause notice, we will revive the legal procedures,” she said.
Architect Mobassher Hossain said it is unfortunate that the presidents of BCB and BFF have extended their support to a wrong cause.
“As the guardians of the country’s cricket and football, they would have thought twice about what they are doing. They are supporting restrictions on play by children on a ground,” he said.
Prof Zafrullah Chowdhury, the founder of Gonoshasthaya, got surprised to see his name among four persons who tried to enter the ground.
“Security personnel prevented me from entering the ground.
Filing of the case against me proved that the field is not open to all.
If a man wants to walk into the field and see his name to be included as a law-breaker, it is really shocking.
I urge the people concerned to withdraw the case,” he said.
Source: Dhaka Tribune