The Victory Square, Known as Dimla Mini Park, Built at a Cost of Crores Taka, Is in a Dilapidated Condition. Drug Users and Rowdy Youths Gather Day and Night !.

Mohinul Islam Sujon, Crime Reporter. Due to a lack of maintenance, the ‘Victory Square’, known as a mini park and built on approximately four bighas of government land in the heart of Dimla Upazila Sadar in Nilphamari at a cost of nearly Tk 1 crore, is now in a dilapidated condition. Once, it was one of the major places for entertainment and mental relaxation for government and private-sector employees, local residents, and especially children in this border upazila. Besides, the Victory Square was also an important venue for various political, social, and cultural programmes in the upazila. The Victory Square has a large Shaheed Minar, a mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a Liberation War memorial, steel and cement benches for seating, separate toilets for men and women, walking paths, LED lighting, and various facilities for children’s physical and mental development, including swings, slides, a climbing dome, and a two-seater spring-loaded ride. There is also a drainage system. After the construction of this aesthetically designed square, it generated considerable interest among local people. People used to come from far and wide to see it. Many would visit the place with their families whenever they had free time. However, local residents said that the condition of the square has become extremely deplorable since the vandalism and looting incident on August 5, 2024. They also alleged that the square is gradually facing a serious crisis of existence due to gatherings of drug users and rowdy youths and the accumulation of garbage. It is learnt that on March 21, 2022, at noon, Sakhawat Hossain Shafik, Organizing Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Bangladesh Awami League, formally inaugurated the Victory Square as the chief guest at the invitation of the then Member of Parliament from Nilphamari-1 (Domar-Dimla) constituency, freedom fighter Alhaj Aftab Uddin Sarker. However, local people hold differing political views regarding which government or whose initiative led to the construction and inauguration of the facility. According to local residents, public funds were spent on its construction, meaning taxpayers’ money. Therefore, they consider the Victory Square not the property of any individual or political party, but rather a state and public asset. According to local residents, on August 5, 2024, the day of the mass uprising, various structures of the square were severely damaged in attacks and vandalism by an agitated crowd. At that time, various structures and belongings there, including the mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, were attacked and vandalized. During that period, some opportunists removed and took away several steel gates of the boundary wall, benches, fans, lights, furniture, library books, grills, doors and windows, dustbins, and various other materials. At present, although the electrical pillars of the square remain, all of them no longer light up as before. The Victory Square, which was once decorated with lighting, is now largely shrouded in darkness. One of the swings for children has broken down and is lying on the ground. One side of the two-seater spring-loaded ride is broken. Garbage has accumulated beneath the climbing dome. The slides have developed rust. There are no dustbins either. The toilets have also become unusable. Garbage and waste are scattered throughout the entire square. Local residents alleged that due to a lack of regular cleaning and maintenance, the once-lively Victory Square has gradually turned into an unsafe place. They also alleged that gatherings of teenagers, the presence of drug users, smoking, and gatherings of rowdy youths have increased there. There are also allegations of dumping garbage and waste and urinating and defecating at various places inside the square. Some local residents said that although this important facility of the upazila has remained in a dilapidated condition for a long time, no effective initiative for renovation, cleanliness, and regular maintenance is visible. As a result, this important mini park, built with public funds, is gradually deteriorating. Farida, a teacher who came to the Victory Square with her child, said, “Previously, whenever we had a little free time, we would come here with our family. Now we do not come here as much. The environment here is no longer like before. There is garbage everywhere, the smell of urine, and rowdy boys can be seen smoking openly. My child thought the Victory Square was still the same as before. So, due to his insistence, I was forced to bring him here.” Shamim, a government employee, said, “My child was crying at home because he wanted to come to the Victory Square. So I brought him here alone. The environment was much better before. At that time, I would also bring his mother along with him. That environment no longer exists.” Local residents have made similar complaints. Jalil, owner of the rice hotel in front of the Victory Square; Rahim, owner of an ice cream and variety store; Anil, a fuchka and chotpoti seller; Wasim, a photocopy and computer businessman; and Khokon, a mobile and bKash businessman, said, “Previously, many people would come to the Victory Square with their families. At that time, our sales were also good. Now, not many people come here with their families because the environment and cleanliness are no longer like before. Leaving others aside, we ourselves no longer bring our families here.” They further said, “We want the previous environment of the Victory Square to return. It is not anyone’s personal property; it is the property of the country—of all of us, that is, the people.” Local residents have demanded the immediate repair of the damaged structures of the Victory Square, restoration of electrical lighting, repair of children’s recreational equipment, making the toilets usable, and arrangements for regular cleaning and maintenance. At the same time, they have demanded necessary monitoring and effective measures to ensure security at the square. According to local residents, if this public asset, built at a cost of crores of taka, is allowed to deteriorate through neglect, not only will an entertainment centre be lost, but an important facility built with public money will also face destruction. Dimla Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ashraful Islam said, “I have conducted raids at the Victory Square twice consecutively with accompanying police forces. However, we did not find any drug users. If necessary, further raids will be conducted. If the presence of drug users is found, legal action will be taken.” Dimla Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Imranuzzaman said, “We had told the DC Sir about renovating the abandoned places in the area. When information about abandoned places was sought, we took photographs of the entire Victory Square about six months ago and sent them to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. The work was supposed to be completed quickly. Once the projects are approved by the ECNEC, new structures will be constructed here and the necessary renovation will be carried out by the government. Therefore, we do not want to waste public money by doing the same work repeatedly. The project is being implemented centrally. We will inspect the site again and, for the time being, take measures to restore the lighting system and bring the place to a reasonably good condition through small projects.