Nowhere to play, children's park abandoned

Children are deprived of a place to play as the railway children's park at the station area in Lalmonirhat town has been abandoned for many years, but no steps have been taken to renovate it. The seesaws, swings, slides and other playing equipment are unusable. It has become a place for anti-social activities.

Locals said the children's park was used by the children every day eight years ago, but now it is abandoned due to lack of maintenance.

"I used to spend a lot of time in the park everyday with my two children some years ago," said Nazrul Islam, 45, a resident of Station Road in the town. "The park had a good environment for children to play in, but now it has turned into a safe area for anti-social people," he added.

"Due to the bad condition of the park our two children cannot play outdoors, and they get bored watching TV at home. Children need mental and physical recreation in a fresh environment," said Noor Hossain, 48.

Atikul Islam Milon, 18, a student of Lalmonirhat Government College, said he used to go to the park to play. At that time the park was a very nice place. But his younger brother does not get this opportunity, he added.

Habiba Akhter, 7, a Class II student of Railway Children's Park High School in the town, said they don't go to the children's park as all the equipment is damaged. "As I cannot go to the park, I pass my leisure time at home watching TV. Of course, I feel very bored," she added.

Railway officials in Lalmonirhat station said the railway children's park was built beside the station 100 years ago. Children of the railway staff, and even from general people's families, used the park everyday. The park was maintained by the railway authorities, but now no money is allocated to maintain it, they added.

Ariful Islam, divisional railway engineer in Lalmonirhat Railway Division, said, no funds are allocated to maintenance of the children's park, so it has been abandoned for years. He will write to the higher authorities concerned, seeking funds for the park to ensure the recovery of the children's facility, he said.