Rashidul Islam Rashed, Kurigram

It has been a long-standing dream of the entertainment-loving people of Kurigram to have an entertainment park in Kurigram. The construction of the desired park named ‘DC Park’ on the eastern side of the Dharla River has already begun under the initiative of Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Nusrat Sultana. According to sources in the Deputy Commissioner’s office, plans have been finalized to have various facilities in the park, including a mini zoo, restaurant, various rides, picnic spots, beautification spots, prayer rooms, children’s corner, Bhawaiya corner, and Kashimuddin corner. It has also been said that commercial establishments inside and outside the park will be built and businesses will be run by local entrepreneurs to reduce unemployment by planting various species of domestic and foreign fruit and flower trees, and to create employment opportunities for people around the park. The construction of the first amusement park in Kurigram district on an expanded scale has instilled new hope among the district’s residents. Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Nusrat Sultana has expressed her determination to take the underdeveloped and backward district of Kurigram forward on the road to development. The people of the district have welcomed her great initiative. On the other hand, various officials and employees of the district administration and the district’s legal community have alleged that a group is carrying out nefarious activities regarding the naming to obstruct this huge development project. While visiting the progress of the proposed ‘DC Park’ project at the eastern end of the Dharla Bridge in Kurigram, I was asked about the controversy that had arisen over the name of the park in a Facebook post. Residents of Asa Municipality, including Advocate Ashraf Ali, Parvez Ahmed couple, Roksana, Parveen Begum and many others, while talking about their aspirations for when the construction of the park will be completed, said, “Kurigram really needs an amusement park. We are very happy to see our desired park being built.” It is worth noting that there is no place for entertainment in Kurigram district town. The people of the town spend their time wandering around the city protection dam on both sides of the Dharla Bridge. It has been a long-standing dream of the people of Kurigram to have an amusement park in the city. On April 20 of this year, in a meeting of the district administration, based on the opinions of almost all political parties in the district (BNP, Jamaat, Islami Andalan, NCP, AB Party, Anti-Discrimination Students’ Movement), leaders of various organizations, media representatives, civil society members, and officials of various government and private departments, a decision was taken to construct a park called ‘DC Park’ on the eastern side of Dharla Bridge in Kurigram. Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Nusrat Sultana took the initiative to build a park named ‘DC Park’ at the eastern end of Dharla Bridge in the form of a resolution in the meeting with great sincerity. In this context, work to build a park was started on about 35 acres of government wasteland on the eastern side of the Dharla Bridge, next to the Kurigram-Bhurungamari road. Some construction work, including sand filling, has begun in the past month or so. The District Commissioner is regularly inspecting and supervising the construction work of the park. When the matter of a park being built in Kurigram town became widely known, some people started a debate about the name. The controversy has also been reported in various media outlets. Some say that since the park is being built in Kurigram, it should be named Kurigram Park, while others say that since it is being built on the banks of the Dharla River, it is preferable to name the park ‘Dharla Park’. Many people are of the opinion that the park should be named ‘Kurigram Eco Park’. Many are hoping for a different name. Most of the common people are asking what will happen with the name. A park is being built for the development of Kurigram. Many people thanked the Deputy Commissioner for the park. Former president of Kurigram Chhatra Dal, Abu Darda Helal, said, “After seeing unnecessary surveys and controversial posts from two people on Facebook from their own IDs regarding the naming of ‘Kurigram DC Park’, he posted a post of his own, saying, ‘In my view, the matter seems very absurd. From my position, as far as I understand, all the people should work together in any creative and developmental work.'” Here, we need to feel the importance of the work. I think it is necessary to pay attention to the importance of the work rather than focusing on the title of any work. Speaking about the controversy over the naming of the park, Kurigram District BNP Member Secretary Sohel Hossain Kaikobad said in a video post on his Facebook page, “The decision to build a DC Park on the east bank of Dharla Bridge has been made based on the opinions of all the political parties that we were part of in the movement to overthrow the fascist government, and the District Administrator has given his consent. We think that there is no such entertainment facility in Kurigram district, so it is very important to have a DC Park. We understand that the large number of people gathering on the Dharla Bridge during various Eids and at different times shows that Kurigram needs an entertainment place. If the DC Park is there, apart from entertainment, we will be able to hold various events there, and there will be a stage next to it.” He called on the Deputy Commissioner to implement the park quickly. At the same time, he said about the naming controversy, those who are debating the naming are undoubtedly the spirit of the fascist government. hen asked about the naming controversy, District BNP Joint Convener Professor Shafiqul Islam Bebu said, “I don’t see anyone getting involved in the naming controversy, but some Facebook warriors are running unnecessary propaganda on their Facebook IDs.” I just want to say their intention, where were those warriors when Sheikh Russell Park and Kurigram Town Hall were renamed Sheikh Russell Hall in Kurigram? Nothing was said about the development of Kurigram then, I hope no one is saying anything or will say anything now. Everyone has the right to express their opinion, it should be there, but if anyone wants to create obstacles in the development of Kurigram, a befitting reply will be given. Regarding the naming controversy, Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Nusrat Sultana said, “The decision to build ‘DC Park’ was taken based on the opinions of everyone present at the district administration meeting – I have no personal opinion on the matter.” There may be differences of opinion on the naming of the park. We welcome them. However, as long as I am here, I will be by your side in the development of Kurigram according to government rules, and if you are by my side, I will not create any obstacles. My main goal is to take the underdeveloped and backward district of Kurigram forward on the highway of development.