Except a year within the past, Panthakunja Park in Karwan Bazar used to be home to hundreds of age-passe leafy timber, offering a habitat for birds, a resting direct for passersby, and a provide of new air within the polluted coronary heart of Dhaka.
The park has started dropping its pure beauty for the explanation that Dhaka Elevated Minute-access freeway Authority started felling timber earlier this year to manufacture an expressway ramp. Protests at that point had halted tree-chopping, however as authorities resumed their work, protests erupted as soon as extra.
The Minute-access freeway Authority reportedly lower down several timber at the present time, together with a 50-year-passe Albizia Richardiana (Gogon Sirish) tree.
In narrate, a workforce of environmentalists and activists staged a sit-in programme and human chain at the present time, demanding the cease of ramp development work to lift the park’s timber.
When contacted, Abe Humayan Md Shakhawat Aktar, director of the Dhaka Elevated Minute-access freeway Mission, told TBS that completely a little home on one side of the park is being current for the elevated expressway.
“Simplest one tree used to be lower at the present time. Most of the timber were lower earlier, however the amount is no longer valuable. The metropolis company potentially lower them,” he acknowledged.
“A few pillars could be placed within the park for the expressway ramp, the work on which is practically complete. Our aim is to present protection to the wonder and greenery of the park,” Aktar added.
Earlier than the expressway work started, the Dhaka South City Company had enclosed the park for years, citing beautification efforts, for the duration of which timber were reportedly eradicated. Curiously, Dhaka South also protested the development of the expressway ramp within the park.
Md Khairul Baker, superintending engineer of the Atmosphere, Local weather, and Anxiousness Management Circle of Dhaka South, told TBS, “They [expressway authority] are chopping timber within the a part of the park that could be current for the ramp. The metropolis company is no longer in favour of chopping even a single tree. We would like to plant fresh timber and indulge in present ones.”
“The metropolis company has accomplished its most efficient to present protection to the park. The beautification work is practically complete, and it’ll soon be opened to the general public,” he added.
Md Rasel, the proprietor of a native footpath resort, told TBS, “There were a fashion of timber in this park, which supplied relief to people within the sizzling days of summer, however now the shade of the timber is long gone. What’s the relieve of chopping down timber and constructing enormous pillars? Is it truly valuable to ruin the atmosphere of this home for this project?”
Amirul Rajiv, convener of the Bangladesh Tree Safety Experience, who participated in at the present time’s narrate, told TBS, “We are able to proceed to lift our sit-in programme to actualise our put a matter to. The destruction of inexperienced areas in Dhaka within the title of development must discontinue.”
“Even for the duration of the earlier executive, the chopping of timber in Panthakunja used to be halted resulting from environmentalists’ opposition. Now, with the political grief having modified, why must development work be performed at the worth of destroying the atmosphere?” he asked.
One more environmental activist, Nayon Sarkar, told TBS, “We are able to proceed our sit-in programme for the duration of the evening till our requires are met. No threats or intimidation can discontinue our narrate. We now live in a fresh Bangladesh, so right here’s the most efficient time to discontinue environmental destruction.”
Coordinators of the Bangladesh Tree Safety Experience (BTPM) bear outlined three fundamental requires. First, the filling of Hatirjheel Lake for the Elevated Minute-access freeway project ought to be stopped, and present pillars eradicated to restore the reservoir’s atmosphere and biodiversity.
Second, they put a matter to a straight away cease to tree chopping in Panthakunja Park and the planting of indigenous tree species suited to seasonal diversifications and the park’s boundaries.
Lastly, they name for the cancellation of the expressway project from Karwan Bazar to Palashi and narrate that those accountable for the planning, originate, and implementation of the project be held accountable.
