CCC abandons own beautifications

Sculptures of cricketers dressed in uniforms of the Bangladeshi national team, which were constructed ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup-2011 and then renovated before the T20 World Cup-2014, have been lying uncared for the last one year, turning into an eyesore.

The Chittagong City Corporation initiated different projects ahead of the two sporting events to make the city more beautiful. Different private firms funded and carried out most of the projects, said CCC sources.

At Nimtala Intersection, sculptures of 11 cricketers were built on the occasion of the 2011 World Cup.  

Currently, none of the sculptures is in their original shape. Most of the batsmen are without their bats and the bowlers without balls. Moreover, the colours of the jerseys have faded. The statues which were once built to beautify the city have now become a blemish on the city.                   

The three statues of Bengal tigers, constructed at Tigerpass Intersection and near foothills in the area, lost their original colour due to lack of maintenance. 

Like the sculptures, fountains, built at Tigerpass and GEC intersections, have also been left uncared for by the authorities concerned.

There is no water at the fountains anymore; rather they are filled with garbage giving the city an ugly look.

"The fountain at GEC Intersection used to attract a lot of people, particularly at night as it was very beautiful then," said Mamunul Huq, a student of Chittagong University.

But, now there are posters pasted on it and people use it as a garbage dump, he said.

A resident of Nimtala area, Shah Alam, said the statues of cricketers have been neglected for a long time.

"It seems like there is nobody to look after the statues," he added.

Contacted, AKM Rezaul Karim, chief town planner of CCC, declined to make comments regarding any plan to renovate and maintain the statues and fountains.          

However, Chief Executive Officer of the city corporation Kazi Mohammad Shafiul Alam said they were considering renovating the statues ahead of Australia's tour to Bangladesh.

However, if the tour this month is cancelled, then they will make another plan, he added.