Chittagong Outer Stadium. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

Various fairs and other programmes have replaced outdoor games in Chittagong outer stadium nowadays. Where games and tournaments are supposed to be the main features, fairs are being held on regular basis in the name of cultural activities.
A big hole for an artificial water fountain has been dug on the middle of the playground. Bricks and stones have been dumped here and there. Floating people have taken shelter and made their shanties in a portion of the playground. If anybody stands on the road beside the stadium and opposite to Circuit House, he or she will have a clear view how the body of a playground has been bruised all over in the name of fair.
In one word, where outdoor games and tournaments were supposed to be the main features, the playground is now under the grip of various fairs and other programmes in the name of cultural programmes.
It is the present scenario of the outer stadium, one of the country's biggest playgrounds where country's many noted players like Akram Khan, Minhajul Abedin Nannu and Tamim Iqbal used to play.
Sources said Bangladesh Army, owner of the playground, gave permission to Chittagong District Sports Association (Chattagram Zila Krira Sangstha) (CZKS) to use it to hold outdoor games and tournaments.
Bangladesh Army filed a case against CZKS for constructing a structure for market on one side of the playground. Three cases are pending with the higher court for disposal in this regard.
Several hundred makeshift stalls and shops have been set up on the occasion of textile fair, Swadinata mela and Bijoy mela on the playground.
During the fair, stall and shop owners dug holes on the palyground and used a huge amount of bricks, stones, cement and steel materials to set up their stalls. As a result the playground lost its shape and turned into a deserted land full of sand, stones and bricks.
Ripan Kanti Sen, a cricket player of Premier League, told The Daily Star that various fairs are held on the playground every year obstructing outdoor games and tournaments.
“Now we are playing Premier League without practicing in the open ground,” he said, adding that if the stadium ground was ready they could have practised properly.
He said big playgrounds like outer stadium and parade ground are disappearing due to lack of care and maintenance.
CZKS Joint Secretary Moshi Salam told The Daily Star that without regular practice no one can develop as a good player and fields and grounds are necessary for proper practice.
Moshi who was also a former football player of Dhaka Abahani Krira Chakra said Bangladesh Army gave the field to use for playing and arranging games to CZKS but the sabgstha wanted to construct a commercial market on one portion of the palyground and then Bangladesh Army took over the custody of the playground.