A small park in Dhaka’s Bakshibazar, which could have been a vibrant space for local children and a walking area for the elderly, has now become a dilapidated, filthy, and unsafe place. Due to mismanagement, lack of oversight, and administrative inaction, the park has been overtaken by drug addicts and teenage gangs, transforming it into a safe haven for illicit activities after dusk.Local residents blame the negligence of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and prolonged political disputes for the park’s dire condition. Located in Ward 27 under DSCC’s Region-3, Bakshibazar Park has fallen into disrepair. In 2020, a renovation project was initiated under the leadership of then-Mayor Mohammad Sayeed Khokon, but even after five years, no visible progress has been made. The park now faces an existential crisis, with drug addicts and outsiders climbing over the closed gates after evening to gather inside. Due to the lack of DSCC monitoring, Bakshibazar Park has become a hazardous and unsafe area.
A visit to the park reveals clear signs of long-term neglect: broken rides, rusted swings, and dense overgrowth. There are no designated walking paths, only weeds and piles of garbage. A slide lies completely collapsed, not only unusable but also dangerous. The colorful rides, once a source of joy for children, are now buried under dust and dirt, serving as relics of neglect. Puddles of stagnant water breed countless mosquitoes, while broken bottles and cigarette butts are scattered near the walls at the back. The cement benches are broken and covered in moss, some reduced to mere wooden or iron frames, unfit for sitting. A foul odor permeates the area, and broken lights plunge the park into darkness after sunset, making it unimaginable for families to visit.
The most alarming fact is that this park is not just an abandoned plot but a government project initiated in 2020, complete with boundary walls and infrastructure. Yet, due to a lack of maintenance, it now faces ruin.
Aranya, a local resident, said, “This is the only park in Bakshibazar, but its condition is so bad that it ruins your mood just looking at it. This is one of Dhaka’s most densely populated areas. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old child, and after a long day, I want to take him for a walk, but the state of this park makes it impossible. The lights have been broken for ages, and it’s pitch dark after evening. The overgrown trees and weeds create a jungle-like atmosphere. During the rainy season, water accumulates, leading to a severe mosquito problem.” He further alleged that since the protests in July last year, DSCC has stopped all maintenance.
Mizanur Rahman, a teacher at Sultanul Uloom Madrasa, added, “Before August 5 last year, DSCC had worked on installing rides, lights, and trees to beautify the park. But suddenly, all maintenance stopped. The mosquito infestation is so bad that students and teachers at the madrasa can’t sleep properly at night.”
Mohammad Abdul Latif, a security guard at the government-run Urban Health Center-5 adjacent to Bakshibazar Ground, said the park’s gate remains open from 8 AM to 4 PM, after which it is locked. Multiple attempts to contact DSCC’s supervising engineer Khairul Baker via phone and WhatsApp went unanswered.
