City Corporation shuts down amusement park at Dhaka's Shyamoli for lease violations

The city corporation has shut down an amusement park in Dhaka as the operator has violated the deed of lease.

The 'Shishu Mela' at Dhaka's Shyamoli has been sealed-off by the Dhaka North City Corporation.

A team, led by an executive magistrate, shut down the park on Saturday in presence of Dhaka North Mayor Annisul Huq.

The mayor, however, said they will open the park for the public 'soon'.

According to the city corporation, the public works ministry handed the park, built on a 1.4-acre land, to them in 1985.

In 2002, it was leased out to one 'M/S Via Media Business Services' for three years.

According to the deed, the organisation paid Tk 145, 756 for the land and set up facilities at its own cost.

The deed was never renewed. The Wonderland Park at Dhaka's Gulshan had been leased out to the same organisation.

After cancelling the lease deed in 2005, the city corporation moved to evict them .

But the amusement park operator filed a writ with the High Court and secured a stay order.

The writ was later resolved but the operator filed another petition in 2009, which is yet to be heard by the court. But then, the court had not issued any order barring eviction.

"This piece of land, in the middle of the city, has been, what I will describe as occupied since 2002, for only Tk 145,000 every three years. And the city corporations has received nothing from 2002," said the Dhaka North mayor.

He said the operators had been 'continuously' moving the court to stop them. "We have won the case and got back this property, which belongs to the people."

Asked why it took so long to gain control of the park, Huq said: “It’s been only a year and half since we took office.

“There are some land sharks in this country and they are very influential. We would describe them as thieves stealing public property," said the Mayor. "The people remain silent out of fear but our government is clear on this matter. Public properties cannot be grabbed anymore."

The Wonderland Group, which operated the park, however, claimed that the city corporation cannot shut down the park going by the court's order.

“We have filed a writ which is pending with the High Court. So no one can call us illegal,” said its Managing Director GM Mustafizur Rahman, who came to the spot after the City Corporation officials left.

He said they would initiate appropriate legal proceedings to protect their interests.