DNCC prioritises new parks, playgrounds: Safiqul

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan on Tuesday said the city corporation has given top priority to developing new parks and playgrounds in line with the BNP’s election manifesto.

He made the remarks while inaugurating a newly developed playground, Shaheed Minar and park in Ward 4 of Mirpur-13.

Safiqul said all parks and playgrounds under the DNCC would be freed from encroachment, renovated, cleaned and opened to the public.

A committee led by the regional executive officer, comprising prominent local residents, will be formed to oversee and preserve the park and playground, he said.

The facilities will also come under CCTV surveillance within the next one and a half months, he added. The administrator said local children and students would be able to use the playground during designated hours but urged students to prioritise their studies.

He also called on community elders to remain vigilant against unruly behaviour, criminal activities and drug use in and around the playground.

The park will remain open to local residents during designated hours and closed at other times, he said.
Safiqul said the DNCC was taking measures with the local police administration to prevent antisocial activities and gatherings of drug users in the area in the evening.

He pledged that the 22 Teki Khal would be permanently recovered before the next election to address waterlogging in the Mirpur-Kafrul area. Plans would also be implemented to construct a walkway along the canal and make it suitable for boat movement, he said.

Referring to the 72-hour ultimatum to remove illegal posters attached to metro rail pillars, he said graffiti and beautification work would begin soon after the cleaning operation.