A group of 23 eminent citizens, including rights activists, lawyers, academics, and journalists, on Tuesday protested the renaming of Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Memorial Park at Gulistan in the capital city of Dhaka and the decision to hand over its management to Gulshan Youth Club.
In a joint statement, they alleged that Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) renamed the park “Gulshan Central Park and Sports Complex”, disregarding existing laws and citizens’ rights.
The park was named after Bangladesh’s prime minister during the Liberation War in 1971, Tajuddin Ahmad, in 2020 to preserve his contributions to the nation.
The signatories questioned RAJUK authority to rename a park dedicated to a national leader, calling the move “audacious” and “disrespectful to the spirit of the Liberation War.”
“We strongly condemn and denounce this initiative. No government agency should have the authority to erase or alter the legacy of such a revered national figure,” the statement said.
The citizens also criticised the decision to hand over management to Gulshan Youth Club, alleging that the club had previously occupied parts of the park illegally and built unauthorised commercial structures.
They noted that in April 2013, RAJUK ordered the eviction of illegal structures from the area. Gulshan Youth Club filed a writ petition, which the High Court dismissed, allowing the eviction to proceed.
The signatories argued that entrusting the park to the same organisation was an attempt to legitimise past illegal occupation. They claimed the club has long occupied about 5.54 acres of park land and expressed concern that the area could be rented out commercially, limiting public access.
They demanded the immediate restoration of the park’s original name and called for unrestricted public access.
Signatories included rights activist Sultana Kamal, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, Nijera Kori Coordinator Khushi Kabir, photographer Shahidul Alam, senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna, Barrister Sara Hossain, Prof Robayet Ferdous, writer Rehnuma Ahmed, and Advocate Salma Ali.
