A month-long handloom fair is going on at the Basabo playground in the capital, depriving local children and youths of all sorts of outdoor sports and recreation.
Residents of the area alleged that local Awami League leaders and their associates were making money by illegally leasing out the playground, which belongs to the city corporation.
Local ruling party lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury inaugurated the month-long 'Baishakhi handloom fair' that began on May 25 under the banner of Bangladesh Khuddra Kutir Shilpa Manufacturers and Business Association.
Youths of the area complained that they could not play at the ground for more than a month as the organisers occupied the ground weeks before the inauguration for construction purpose.
'This is the only playground in the locality. Now we have to play in a sand-filled open space nearby for many days. But the condition of the space is not favourable for playing cricket,' says Faisal, a college student.
People living around the playground also alleged that the shops of the fair played music all daylong causing serious disturbance.
Basabo Tarun Sangha, a youth club which administers the playground, rented it out to meet the expenses of the club, claimed a secretary of the club's executive committee. Similar fairs had been organised in 2009 and 2010.
'There was no money in the club fund only few years back. Now we have Tk 14 to Tk 15 lakh in our fund. This fund has been raised mainly through the income from the fair,' he said in condition of anonymity.
He, however, brushed aside the allegations that the fair was hampering the sports and the quality of the residential atmosphere.
A few people, led by Maksudur Rahman Shamim, president of ward 27 AL, organised the fair without any consultation with the club committee exploiting their power, said the secretary.
'The income from the earlier fairs had been shared among local ruling party leaders and the club members after half of the total income was put in the club fund. This time, only a few people are getting the share which made others oppose the fair,' he said.
Maksudur Rahman Shamim, however, turned down the allegations. 'I don't know anything about this. You better ask the general secretary and the president of the club. They have given permission to arrange the fair.'
'As a local leader, my job is only to make the contacts between the organisers and the MP,' he added.
He, however, claimed that though the fair is hampering sports and residential atmosphere, it is needed because it helps the club. 'The club's football team plays in second division tournament. At least Tk 15 to Tk 20 lakh is needed a year to run the club. The fair helps manage some of this expense.'
Sadek Khan, president of Basabo Tarun Sangha, refuted Shamim's claim, saying the playground belonged to the city corporation and Tarun Sangha was not actually involved with organising such fairs though it is getting some contribution from it.
'We do not want such fairs. Some local ruling party leaders are organising it,' he said.
Md Shahidul Islam Khan (Pinto), president of Bangladesh Khuddra Kutir Shilpa Manufacturers and Business Association, told New Age that the organisation has been organising such fairs for nearly 20 years across the country.
There are 84 shops, four pavilions, two swing carousels, a large fountain and a tower in the fair. The fair is selling saris, clothes, ornaments, groceries, household materials and food items.
When asked about organising 'Baishakhi fair' in the month of Jaishtha and Ashar, Md Shahidul Islam Khan said they got the permission for that period, but they had to reschedule it for the Higher Secondary Examination and for the local MP was abroad.
Source: New Age