& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

DC Hill turns criminals' den

Tarek Mahmud, ctg
DC Hill Park, which is a symbol of green nature in Chittagong city, has turned into a haven for criminal activities after dusk due to a lack of adequate lighting and security measures.
Dealing in drugs like phensidyl, yaba, and cannabis; mugging, gambling, and stalking of female visitors are now regular phenomena in the park located in the city's Momin Road area.
The park earned its name from the official residence of the deputy commissioner (DC) on the peak of the hill.
Situated on 5.2 acres of land, the park draws thousands of visitors for its natural beauty. People visit the place to get fresh air.
During a recent visit The Daily Star found some young men, barely out of their teens, roaming in the park. They were looking for customers to sell drugs, while some drug addicts were smoking cannabis.
One of the drug peddlers, on condition of anonymity, said, "I sell drugs including ganja in the park."
"I collect the drugs from a trader named 'Bodda' [elder brother] who lives near the park, "he added.
According to him, a number of temporary tea stalls and nurseries set up in the park are also involved in the drug trade.
RP Sarker, a retired government officer and regular visitor to the park, said, "The drug dealers and the users are seen even during the day."
"Necessary measures should be taken soon to prevent the criminal activities in the park," he added.
Joy Prakash Barua, another retired government officer, said despite repeated complaints to nearby Enaet Bazar police outpost the illegal activities did not stop.
"Sufficient number of police should be deployed in the park, "he added.
Bijoy Kumar Chowdhury, a ward councillor of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), said, "The park turns into an unsecured place for the visitors due to a lack of lighting and security measures."
There is no street light at several spots in the park. Drug peddlers and addicts mainly gather at the eastern part of the hill where lighting is inadequate.
Visitors said sometimes they come under attack by muggers at the dark spot. Female visitors often become victims of stalking.
"I am afraid of being mugged in the park after sunset," said Alam, a regular park visitor.
Another visitor Shahida Banu Pia said, "Female visitors cannot feel secure in the parkpast afternoon."
" Due to the fear of being a
victim of stalking, I even avoid attending cultural programmes there which often take place after dusk," she said.
Nazrul Square located at the front slope of the hill is the venue for cultural programmes, bookfairs, and festivals on many occasions.
Mahfukul Haq, executive engineer of CCC, said, "We provide lighting only along the main street in the park that goes up to the DCs residence."
"But the entire park should be lit to prevent criminal activities," he added.
According to regular visitors, miscreants often break the light bulbs by throwing stones, and cut the power lines, so that they can carry out their criminal activities safely.
Fayez Ahmad, the DC of Chittagong, however, denied the allegations.
"The allegations are not true. I have not noticed any misdeed in the park area when I return home at night," he said adding that police patrol the area.
"There is no problem in the park and it is not a den of miscreants," he claimed.
Shafiqul Islam, acting commissioner of Chittagong
Metropolitan Police, said, "I am not informed about the misdeeds in the park."
"I, however, will look into the matter," he added.