A human chain was formed and a memorandum submitted to the deputy commissioner demanding that plans to build a playground inside the DC Ecopark in Chuadanga’s Damurhuda Shibnagar village be dropped.
The Bangladesh Biodiversity Conservation Federation and the Wildlife and Nature Initiative organization held the human-chain program around 11 a.m. Sunday, August 30.
After the human chain, organization leaders submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Lutfun Nahar.
Speakers at the human chain said the Shibnagar DC Ecopark is one of Chuadanga’s important landmarks and heritage sites. Some people are trying to establish a playground inside the park. But the park currently hosts countless species of plants and wildlife. Many visitors come here for mental peace. If a playground is built here, they said, the park’s biodiversity would be completely destroyed.
They said none of them oppose sports. There is no better alternative for young people than sports, but establishing a playground by destroying biodiversity is not right. They said the playground should be built at an alternative site instead.
After receiving the memorandum, Deputy Commissioner Lutfun Nahar said: “We will work to protect the environment. At the same time, we will also make arrangements for sports. We will not allow a playground to be established inside the ecopark under any circumstances. We are working to set up a playground elsewhere.”
Those present included former principal of Chuadanga Municipal Degree College Shahjahan Ali; Ahsan Habib Shiplu, lecturer in the zoology department of Chuadanga Boro Soluya New Degree College and president of the Bangladesh Wildlife and Nature Initiative; Mofazzal Hossain; Sakil Ahmed; Ruhin Ali; and other organization members and civic figures.