Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party's (VDP) controversial possession of a playground at Khilgaon Chowdhury Para has been depriving thousands of children of the only local recreation ground.

According to local residents, the ground, locally known as Chowdhury Para Pachaar Math, has always been an object of tug-of-war between various authorities and influential quarters during the tenures of different governments.

Several attempts to possess the ground ensued as the ground was allotted to different organizations for different purposes in the past, locals said.

"This ground is the only children's playground in the area and has been subjected to various attempts of encroachment in the past," said Majibur Rahman, a local resident.

"It has always been surrounded by rickshaw garages, makeshift stores, mechanical workshops, etc. Despite the risk factors and consid-

ering the fact that no other option is available in the areas the children used to go and play there everyday," he added.

Finally, the ground was made off limits to all after Bangladesh Ansar and VDP occupied it on January 31, 2007 violating an injunction issued bya High Court bench.

According to sources, the High Court issued an injunction prohibiting any type of construction work or landscape transformation on the designated ground on February 2,2006.

The Ansar officials blatantly violated the injunction and fenced off the ground from the public.

Locals said on the morning of January 31, 2007, they were taken by surprise as hundreds of Ansar and VDP officials with trucks loaded with metal sheets, bamboo and other equipment took over the ground and started to put up fence around it.

"When asked, they told us that they were acting upon instruction from 'higher authorities'," said Munir Hossain, a local resident.

"A few of us [local residents] tried to protest the abrupt invasion and got brutally beaten up

by the Ansars. Many of us were even detained," Munir alleged.

Col Abul Kalam Mohammad Zaki, director (admin) of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, told this correspondent that they rightfully occupied the ground.

"The ground was leased to us by the then state ministry. Even though successive governments made attempts to allocate the ground to other organisations, the original allocation [the lease] was never cancelled," said Col Zaki.

"The court issued the injunction without properly acknowledging the situation. As the authorized authority, the Ansar and VDP will take appropriate steps to avoid any confusion over the ground," he added.

However, sources said although the ground was leased to the Ansar and VDP in 1987 by the then state ministry, the lease was cancelled in 1996 due to Ansar and VDP's failure to pay an instalment ofTk 36,00,000 by due date.

The ground was later allotted to Sabuj Mati Trust (SMT) for construction of a health complex in 2000. Again, the housing and public works ministry cancelled that allotment in 2004.

"We purchased the land at a rate of Tk 40 lakh per bigha as determined by housing and public works ministry in 2000. Although there has been an injunction on the land by the High Court, Ansar and VDP occupied the land without informing any magistrate or the police," said an w%mt official seeking anonymity. £ On January 2,2005, SMTfiled f a writ petition with the High Court 1/1 after the ministry cancelled the

allotment of the land to SMT on November 25, 2004. Later, on April 26, 2005, the ministry issued work order to a company for development of a park on the land, added the sources.

Following the writ petition filed by SMT, a High Court Division Bench issued an injunction on the land on February 2, 2006. The Court directed not to make any construction on the land and not to change the nature and character of the land in any man-

ner till disposal of the previous stayed rule issued by High Court on January 2, 2005 which is still pending and yet to be disposed of.

Local residents expressed resentment and discontent over the authorities' failure to save the ground and turn it into a recreational park for the children as the government had planned it.

"This is the only ground in the whole area and the authorities never really took necessary steps to construct a full-fledged recreation park on the ground," said local resident Munir Hossain.

Col Abul Kalam Mohammad Zaki, director (admin) of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, however said the Ansar and VDP officials would take steps, if deem necessary, to renovate the ground and turn it into a full-fledged playground. "If they [locals] want a children's playground there, and if it deems necessary, the Ansar would renovate the ground to suit the needs of the local residents and I would personally see to it."