Oitihasik Bahadurshah Park and the park’s Oitijjo Rokkha Sangram Parishad on Monday demanded removal of a food stall from the historic Bahadur Shah Park located in the capital’s old town.
It also demanded setting up boundary walls around the park for security and reinstatement of 1857 history writing at a view exchange event held in the park, formerly known as Victoria Park.
Eminent economist Anu Muhammad said that the government showed irresponsible behaviour by leasing out the park’s space to the food stall.
‘I suspect that there was a conspiracy to take over the park. Otherwise, why is the Dhaka South City Corporation so adamant in keeping the food stall despite protest from local people?’ he posed a question.
The government should cancel the lease and protect the park’s heritage, he said.
Local people said that the food stall was installed in the place where people used to do physical exercise, which shrunk the park’s space and harmed its sanctity.
Teachers of various educational institutions were also present at the event.
The park has a memorial dedicated to the soldiers hanged by the British during the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857.