Around two thirds of Dhaka's 10-million strong population are children. But the city has only 10 playgrounds and 41 parks owned by the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) but even those are not suitable for children.

Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA), Institute of Architects (AIB) and Dhanmondi Paribeshbadi Jote jointly organised a procession last Sunday asking the authorities to stop holding fairs on all playgrounds including Dhanmondi ground.

At present, Dhanmondi Club is holding a fair on the ground, which will continue for a week.

Environmentalists have repeatedly organised protests to end the culture of holding fairs on all playgrounds and also to free them from the illegal occupiers.

"None can use playgrounds for commercial purpose without DCC's permission," said Abu Naser Khan, general secretary of BAPA. "So why the are they allowing the commercial occupiers to deprive what is rightfully the children's?" he asked.

Many city dwellers complained that the fast diminishing open-spaces and playgrounds from the cityscape is hampering physical and psychological growth of city children.

"There is only a small corridor in my house where I can play with my little bicycle and a few toys. Besides this television is the other entertainment I have," said eleven year old Sakib who lives in Khilgoan.

"The lack of physical movement may cause serious mental hindrance to children. It will not handicap them mentally but a mental imbalance is a probability," feared Dr HM Firoz, director of National Mental Health Institution

Children of the city are compelled to entertain themselves indoors which is making them psychologically isolated and creating a long-term negative effect in their personality, Dr Firoz said.

But the DCC and other concerned bodies are allegedly neglecting the notion of playgrounds, as they are not taking action against the occupiers.

State department of the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) claim that they have a shortage of manpower as well as unavailability of police to evict the occupiers.

"There is very limited access for children to play in the playgrounds as organisations, one after another, arrange fairs there. This is happening every year," said Abu Naser Khan.

"Most of the open spaces and playgrounds are occupied by either businessmen or land grabbers," he added.

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) in a survey conducted, found several playgrounds and parks have disappeared.

Environmentalists and right groups allege that the DCC is not serious about freeing playgrounds as they earn a huge amount in revenues by permitting commercial use of the grounds and open spaces.

"Quite often we evict the illegal occupiers but local bodies including ward commissioners and regional DCC officials don't do their jobs of protecting the grounds," said a senior official of the estate department.

DCC sources said that there is a plan to hand over all parks and playgrounds to private sector which just might solve the problem.