Summary:
- UN Park in Chittagong’s Panchlaish area has been officially renamed to “July Memorial Park” to honor the martyrs of the 2024 July Revolution, inaugurated by Housing Ministry Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan.
- The renovation project, completed at a cost of 12.62 crore taka, includes new features like green courtyards, walking paths, children’s playground equipment, and adult exercise facilities.
- The renaming commemorates the July-August 2024 pro-democratic protests that led to the end of a 16-year authoritarian rule and resulted in approximately 1,500 protester deaths.
- The park’s transformation marks a victory over a controversial 2016 attempt to commercialize the space, now serving as a public green urban space under the Public Works Department.
The historic United Nations Park in Chittagong’s Panchlaish residential area has been officially renamed as “July Memorial Park” to commemorate the victims of Bangladesh’s 2024 July Revolution. The park was reopened after an inauguration by Housing and Public Works Ministry Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan on Friday afternoon.
During the inauguration ceremony, Advisor Khan emphasized that the renaming serves as a tribute to the revolution’s martyrs, particularly Wasim Akram. “This renaming ensures that future generations will remember the sacrifices made during July-August, and fascism never returns to our soil,” Khan stated.
The ceremony was attended by prominent officials including Chittagong City Mayor Shahadat Hossain, District Commissioner Farida Khanam, and representatives from the Public Works Department.
The park’s renovation project, completed in July 2024, was implemented at a cost of 12.62 crore taka. The renovated space features green courtyards, walking paths, tree plantations, permanent playground equipment for children, and exercise facilities for adults.
This renaming comes in the wake of the historic July Revolution that saw widespread pro-democratic protests across Bangladesh from July to August 2024, resulting in the end of a 16-year authoritarian rule. The uprising, which began as a student movement against a controversial job quota system, led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the deaths of approximately 1,500 protesters.
The park’s transformation represents a significant shift from its controversial past. In 2016, attempts to lease the park to a private company for commercial development were blocked by then-Housing Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain and the Panchlaish Residential Association. The Public Works Department later took over the park’s renovation, transforming it into a green urban space for public use.
Source: Samakal
