S S Sagar, Chitalmari
Chitalmari Upazila Children’s Park in Bagerhat has become lively with visitors on weekly holidays, offering one of the few recreational facilities for children, teenagers and their parents in the area.
Every Friday and Saturday, families from nearby areas flock to the park in search of recreation. Parents bring their children here for entertainment, turning the park into a vibrant gathering place on weekends. The park is also monitored by CCTV cameras around the clock to ensure the safety of visitors.
However, visitors have called for the repair of damaged animal and bird sculptures and the addition of more play equipment.
According to concerned sources, an open children’s park was established several years ago within the Chitalmari Upazila Parishad premises to promote children’s health and mental development. The park features sculptures of various animals, including deer and horses, as well as swings and different rides for children.
As there are few recreational facilities in and around the upazila, the park has become an important place for children’s recreation and mental development. It therefore becomes particularly busy with children and their parents every Friday and Saturday.
Children Samira, Siam Khan, Sumaiya Akter, Habibul and Swarna, who visited the park, said they became bored staying at home for long periods and felt much better after coming to the park. They also called for more toys and play equipment.
Parents Jahidur Rahman Khan, Tashli Begum, Keya Akter and Momin Sheikh said there were few facilities for children’s recreation in the upazila. Although the park has helped meet some of that need, they said it now requires renovation and further development.
Chitalmari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khadija Akter said, “Although it is an upazila children’s park, we have no funds of our own for it. We have to maintain and renovate it with allocations from the District Council. I have been maintaining communication with the District Council in this regard.” #EK
