The state minister said the number of unions where suitable khas land could not be found was relatively small.
Representational image. Photo: Collected
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Representational image. Photo: Collected
A shortage of suitable government-owned khas land has emerged as a major obstacle to plans to build playgrounds in all 4,599 unions across Bangladesh to promote sports, support children’s physical and mental development, and keep young people away from drugs and juvenile crime.
Officials say influential figures have occupied much of the available khas land or used it for various structures, leaving few vacant plots that meet the project’s requirements.
A high-level committee formed to oversee the initiative instructed deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers at a meeting on 14 March to identify eight bighas of khas land for each playground and submit proposals for necessary renovation and development.
Now seven months after the directive, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque said they have collected land information from 599 unions in 35 districts.
Infograph: TBS
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Infograph: TBS
Talking to TBS, he said that the government aims to collect information for 1,000 unions by December and gradually establish playgrounds in all unions over the next five years.
“There is no separate budget for this. We are building the playgrounds entirely on khas land,” Aminul said, adding that renovation and development would be carried out in coordination with the ministries of local government, disaster management and relief, and youth and sports.
The state minister said the number of unions where suitable khas land could not be found was relatively small.
Officials had been instructed to identify available plots, and information covering 10-12% of the target had already been received, he said, adding that if khas land cannot be found in some areas, a decision will be taken later.
A 12-member committee, led by the state minister and comprising representatives of different ministries, was formed under the Prime Minister’s Office to oversee playground development in urban and rural areas.
Under the guidelines, sites must not threaten agricultural land or be proposed for public sale. Priority should be given to locations near union parishad offices or designated growth centres.
The land must be available in a single plot, close to populated areas and centrally located within the union to ensure easy access for residents.
The ministry has written to local public representatives, asking them to help implement the initiative by coordinating with UNOs in their respective constituencies.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed officials to establish at least 1,000 playgrounds across the country within two months to fulfil an election manifesto pledge.
He instructed at a meeting on union-based playgrounds and the expansion of sports activities at the Secretariat on 8 October.
Playgrounds to include parks and walkways
The facilities will primarily be open playgrounds suitable for football, cricket, volleyball, kabaddi and traditional local games.
Plans include boundary fencing, tree planting and walkways. A children’s play area and park will also be developed alongside each playground.
Management or maintenance committees will be formed in consultation with upazila administrations, local government bodies and local members of parliament to ensure long-term upkeep.
Sports officers, international-standard facilities planned
The government has decided to appoint sports officers in every upazila to strengthen sports management and expand development initiatives at the grassroots level.
It also plans to build international-standard sports villages in 10 regions during the next fiscal year, covering the eight divisions as well as Faridpur and Cumilla.
The facilities will include modern indoor stadiums, swimming pools, and training and competition facilities for archery, shooting, football, athletics, and other sporting disciplines.
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