Govt working to free parks, playgrounds from encroachers, drug users: Fakhrul

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told parliament today (8 June) that efforts are underway to free playgrounds and parks in the capital as well as all divisional and district towns from encroachers and drug users and make them completely safe for the public.

He said the government remains committed to recovering and modernising playgrounds and parks and has already launched extensive eviction and development drives in Dhaka and across the country.

The minister stressed that drug control cannot be ensured through administrative measures alone and requires greater social awareness.

He made the remarks while responding to an urgent public notice raised by reserved seat MP Nilufar Chowdhury Moni during a parliamentary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.

In her notice, Nilufar highlighted the deteriorating condition of playgrounds across the country.

"Parks and playgrounds in Dhaka and other cities were once popular spaces for children and adolescents to play and for elderly people to spend their leisure time. However, many of these spaces have now become centres for drug dealing, hawker activities and gatherings of troublemakers."

She said many playgrounds and parks have been subjected to illegal occupation, while others have been commercially exploited in the name of children's parks, damaging their natural beauty and original purpose.

As a result, children and people from all walks of life are increasingly turning to the virtual world of mobile screens due to the lack of a safe environment, she added.

Describing playgrounds as the "lungs" of urban areas and an important component of public health infrastructure, Nilufar expressed concern that many parks and playgrounds had long been treated as private assets and leased out for profit.

Referring to various media reports, she said, "There are only 235 playgrounds across the 129 wards of the two Dhaka city corporations, averaging fewer than two playgrounds per ward. Of these, only 42 playgrounds are accessible to the general public, accounting for just 18% of the total. The remaining 60% are occupied by various institutions and illegal encroachers, where clubs, markets and other establishments have been developed."

She said traditional playgrounds such as Dhopkhola Field, Shyamoli Field and several fields in Mirpur have been reduced in size due to the establishment of daily or weekly markets.

Citing a 2025 report, the MP also noted that Dhaka has lost 126 playgrounds and urged the minister to ensure that books and playgrounds remain the primary tools for fostering a healthy environment for future generations.

Responding to the notice, Fakhrul acknowledged that most of the information presented by the lawmaker was accurate. He said that during the tenure of the previous government, a large number of playgrounds and open spaces across the country had been occupied for political and partisan reasons.

The minister said that since assuming office, the current government has been working to recover those spaces and make them suitable for public use.

"Development and restoration work is being carried out in phases at 256 parks and playgrounds under the Dhaka South City Corporation," Fakhrul said.

"As an example, Shaheed Matiur Rahman Park in Gulistan, once known as a hub for hawkers, vagrants and criminal activities, has now been transformed into a clean, well-maintained and hawker-free public park."

He added that development work is ongoing or nearing completion at Malihala Park, Motijheel Park, Nawabganj Park, Rasulbagh Field, Khilgaon-Basabo Field, Sadeque Hossain Khoka Field, Hazaribagh Park and Amligola Playground, among many other recreational facilities.

"Similarly, 38 parks and playgrounds under the Dhaka North City Corporation have been modernised and kept open for public use, while eviction drives are being conducted regularly,"

Fakhrul said. "Outside Dhaka, projects are underway to construct playgrounds and parks in phases across the 41 wards of Chattogram City Corporation, with work on several facilities already completed. In Khulna, regular mobile court operations are being conducted at major recreational facilities, including Hadis Park, United Nations Children's Park and parks in the Nirala Residential Area, to maintain a healthy environment."

The minister also said that under special directives from the prime minister, inter-school football tournaments and cultural competitions, beginning from the primary school level, have gained widespread popularity across the country, significantly boosting sporting activities at the grassroots level.

Later, Nilufar raised a supplementary question expressing concern over the presence of drug users in playgrounds, particularly during the morning and evening hours.

She sought information on coordinated and strict measures by the ministries of home affairs and local government to prevent children from being exposed to drug abuse.

In response, Fakhrul described drug abuse as a major national social problem.

He assured parliament that, under strict directives from the home minister, efforts to bring drug dealers and users under the law have already been intensified.

However, he said the problem cannot be resolved through legal or police action alone. A broad-based social movement is needed to prevent drug abuse and combat its spread.

The government, together with the youth community and various social and state institutions, is committed to building widespread public awareness and a strong social movement through nationwide campaigns, he said.

The minister expressed hope that through these coordinated development and awareness-building initiatives, playgrounds would soon become fully safe and free from encroachment and that the future of the country's youth would be better protected.