Osmani Udyan to open for the public on 19 Oct: Mir Shahe Alam

State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam today (11 October) announced that the Osmani Udyan will be opened to the public on 19 October.

The decision was taken following a recent civic gathering attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. With this move, the park is being reopened for public use after long ten years.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will formally inaugurate the modernized historic Osmani Udyan-renovated at a cost of Taka 50 crore by the initiative of the South City Corporation along with the newly constructed 'July Memorial' on 19 October.

The State Minister made these remarks while speaking at a preparatory meeting regarding the inauguration of the udyan and the newly built 'July Memorial' in his ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat here.

He said that the park is being opened to the public after a long decade, offering a pleasant environment for families to take walks together. The newly renovated park features walking paths, facilities for spending time with family, restaurants, a modern library, designated play areas for children, artificial fountains and charming water features. Furthermore, the DSCC is working tirelessly, day and night, to enhance the beauty of this significant location adjacent to the Secretariat and to maintain a pleasant environment.

He mentioned that a special 'July Memorial' has been constructed in the park to honor the martyrs and heroic fighters of the July uprising; this will provide visitors with an opportunity to reflect on the historic student-led mass revolution of July-August and the sacrifices made by the martyrs.

Regarding the eviction of hawkers from various footpaths in the capital, the state minister remarked, "I do not agree with the term 'hawker eviction'." Footpaths are being made accessible for the citizens-not merely to evict hawkers, but to ensure the walkways are usable for the general public, he added. 

He said that this initiative is underway to enable the residents of both the north and south city corporations to move freely along the footpaths. The drives will continue until the hawkers are removed and measures will also be taken to prevent new hawkers from setting up shop.

The DSCC Administrator  Abdus Salam, the Secretary of the Local Government Division, other senior officials and representatives from relevant agencies attended the preparatory meeting.