Stop attacking Dhaka’s ‘lungs’

At the very heart of the capital lies a patch of greenery — Osmani Udyan — known as the “lungs of Dhaka.” Surrounded by countless high-rise buildings, this little stretch of green still stands tall. Yet even this lung of the city is now under assault, with “development projects” underway.

According to news reports published today (Saturday, 11 October), several structures were built in Osmani Udyan under a development project of Dhaka South City Corporation during the previous Awami League government, and those works remain incomplete. As a result, the park has turned into a heap of concrete waste. Now, during the tenure of the interim government, the Ministry of Local Government plans to build a memorial there in honour of the martyrs of the July uprising. The project will cost Tk 46 crore.

Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan recently told the media that the ministry is constructing the memorial in Osmani Udyan through the City Corporation, which is preparing the design. Once finalised and approved by the ministry, the construction will begin. He added, “In major parks across the country we have various structures commemorating important events or figures — such as the Glass Tower and Independence Museum in Suhrawardy Udyan, or the tombs and monuments in Zia Udyan and Chandrima Udyan.”

Building memorials helps preserve our history and heritage. However, the government must consider where such structures can be built without harming nature. There has been criticism in the past over constructing memorials in parks. The fact that it happened before does not justify repeating it now. Dhaka is far more densely populated today than ever before. Especially for residents around Osmani Udyan and in Old Dhaka, there is hardly any breathing space left. Many people visit this park regularly just to breathe freely for a while. Environmentalists have expressed concern that new construction will cause permanent damage to the park. Where construction is legally allowed on only 5 per cent of park space, Osmani Udyan already has structures covering more than that. They fear that any new structure will consume what little of the park remains.

The consulting firm overseeing the park’s development is Shatotto, headed by architect Rafiq Azam. He has advised against building a memorial and instead suggested turning an existing under-construction building within the park into a museum to preserve the memories of July–August. According to Rafiq Azam, on the western side of the park, a partly underground building was originally planned as an urban museum. Although part of the structure has already been built, it remains unused due to a lack of funds. The government, he said, could turn that space into a large museum dedicated to the July–August revolution.

That would save money, save trees, and save space. We urge the government to heed the words of Rafiq Azam, the environmentalists, and the citizens of Dhaka. The government must remember: a memorial can be built elsewhere, but once Dhaka’s lungs are damaged, that loss can never be repaired. Therefore, stop harming the lungs of Dhaka immediately.