Urban planners want separate policy, body to protect open spaces

City planners have urged that the government formulate a policy and form a separate authority accommodating the urban experts, architects and social scientists to preserve playgrounds, public places and open spaces in the capital. 

Around 84% of people in the capital are deprived of sports facilities and less than 5% residents have access to playgrounds, said Adil Mohammed Khan, president of Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) at a discussion on Tuesday.  

According to the World Health Organization, there should be a minimum of 9 square metres of open space for every citizen in a city.

However, there are only 42 fields in 129 wards under the two city corporations of Dhaka city, Adil said highlighting BIP's research findings at the discussion on 'Planning and Management of Playgrounds in Urban Areas of the Country: Challenges and Actions'.

"Although there are playgrounds in several wards, not all the grounds are open to the public. Some fields are occupied by private clubs, and some fields are closed in the name of development and fairs," the urban planner added.

The study findings were unveiled at the event jointly organised by Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust at the National Press Club. 

It also finds that most of the few fields in the capital are in developed areas. Marginal areas such as Kamrangirchar, Aftabnagar, Jurain, and Doniya do not have playgrounds.

Adil emphasised formulating a policy to overcome this situation, through which it will be possible to plan and manage the fields and parks.

The urban experts observed that there is shortage of school playgrounds and open spaces not only in Dhaka but also in other cities and district towns. As a result, juvenile delinquency and drug abuse have increased in the country. 

Prof Aktar Mahmud, former BIP president, the character of the places marked as fields, parks or water body in the Master Plan can not be changed in any circumstances as per the law, but this is not complied with. 

Keeping the shortage in mind, 100 km of river banks and water bodies around Dhaka city can be turned into social spaces, which can also improve Dhaka's drainage management, according to him.  

Shayer Ghafur, professor at Buet's architecture department said, "Political will is very important to protect the playgrounds. Abuse of power is responsible for the narrowing of the fields." 

"Our urban planning does not take into account the needs of the children, disabled people or women." This city is made for able men. We are commercialising playgrounds rather than giving importance to children's physical and mental development," added WBB Trust Director Gauss Piari.