Only on signboard

A worn-out signboard stands on 4.16 acres of land on the west side of the National Parliament, reading “Playground open only to disabled persons”. There's no entrance to the ground, which looks practically abandoned -- full of thickets and not remotely resembling a playground of any sort.

It has been nearly two years since the ground was handed over to concerned authorities to develop it into a playground exclusively for differently-abled persons, but government bodies involved in the process are being slippery in taking responsibility for what has been causing the delay.

Porimal Das, a guardian of a differently-abled 19-year old, said, “I have been watching this signboard for a long time whenever I pass the area, but there's nothing except bushes here.”

There is a scarcity of playgrounds in Dhaka city, and when it comes to disabled children, there is none, he said, adding “Such a playground can provide disabled children with access to physical activity.”  

National Foundation for Development of the Disabled Persons (NFDDP) under the Ministry of Social Welfare (MSW) is responsible for the maintenance of the field, as written on the signboard. Public Works Department (PWD) is the owner of the land and as per the initiative of social welfare ministry upon a directive from the Prime Minister's Office, the land was selected to be used as a playground for disabled children, according to officials concerned.

On December 18, 2016, PWD handed over the piece of land to the NFDDP for maintenance, said NFDDP officials. However, NFDDP was not allowed to start work until approval from the National Parliament Secretariat, as the secretariat's consent is required to start any work in the parliament building area.

NFDDP sent letters to the National Parliament Secretariat through social welfare ministry three times -- on July 4, 2017, then on July 20 of the same year, and a third one on January 10, 2018.

Finally on June 7 this year, NFDDP got the permission from the parliament secretariat to start the work for the playground. Upon receiving the permission, PWD, Department of Architecture and NFDDP sat for a meeting on June 25.

The Department of Architecture asked the PWD for a "Detailed Digital Survey" to create a design of the playground on July 15. PWD conducted the survey of the playground and submitted the report in late August, said an architect of the department, wishing to remain anonymous.

According to the architecture department official, the design is in the primary level now, and it is uncertain how long it will take to complete it. It usually takes between eight to 12 weeks to complete a design, but as it is a special area situated near the parliament, they are being cautios so that it does not conflict with the architectural code of the National Parliament, the official said.

Once the design is complete, it will be submitted to the MSW and the NFDDP. The MSW will show the design to the National Parliament Secretariat for approval. Then the PWD will estimate the cost of the whole design, and seek funding from the MSW. Upon receiving the funding, PWD will implement the design, according to PWD sources.

Meanwhile, many organisations that had praised the initiative when it was first taken, are now frustrated over the delay. 

Mofijul Islam, deputy director of Society for the Welfare of Autistic Children, a platform working for differently-abled children, told The Daily Star, “The prime minister declared a couple of years ago that the field would be used as a playground for disabled persons, but till date there is nothing but a signboard. Only concerned authorities can tell why it is taking so long.”

Contacted, MSW Additional Secretary (Institution and disabilities) Sushanta Kumar Pramanik declined to comment, and directed this correspondent to NFDDP.

NFDDP Managing Director Mahmuda Min Ara said, “Several departments are involved in the initiative to implement it. Besides, we did not have permission to proceed with our work until June 2018, from the parliament secretariat, so it is taking time.”

“We have done what we had to do so far. Once the Department of Architecture completes their design, the concerned departments can begin their work,” she added. 

Meanwhile, chief architect of the Department of Architecture Kazi Golam Nasir said, “Once the design is complete, we can proceed further.”

The longest delay in the process so far has taken place at the National Parliament Secretariat (from July 4, 2017 to June 7, 2018). This correspondent contacted three officials of the secretariat -- Assistant Secretary (estate) Md Delwar Hossain, Additional Secretary Md Nuruzzaman and finally Senior Secretary Abdur Rob Howlader -- asking about the delay, but none of them were able to provide any explanation.

According to the National Taskforce on Disabilities-friendly Disaster Management Affairs, a total of 15,93,070  people with disabilities are registered in Bangladesh. The dilly-dallying and lack of accountability on the government bodies' part in ensuring something as simple as a playground, is demoralising for the community, according to those working for rights of the differently-abled.