"We have developed these open spaces and playgrounds to keep the city healthy. But the DCC is now constructing buildings on them for commercial purpose in gross violation of the Town Improvement act," said a Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkha (Rajuk) official who preferred not to be named.

Surprisingly, neither the DCC nor the Rajuk could provide the exact numbers of playgrounds and open spaces in Dhaka when this correspondent inquired. As per the current rules, Rajuk develops the open spaces and hands them over to the DCC for maintenance. But reportedly, there has been a recent trend of converting these areas into commercial facilities. In this manner, many open spaces and parks that are clearly marked in the Dhaka Metropolitan Development Master Plan (DMDP), have lost their characteristics.

The DCC has constructed the Mahanagar Nattya Mancha on the park in front of the Bangabhaban. The park is distinctly present in the master plan. The DCC has also leased out a park in Gulshan, which has been converted into the Wonderland amusement centre. The Sweepers Colony in Gulshan is also on a parkland. The DCC is now constructing public toilets on the Dilkusha Park in Motijheel.

DCC's chief executive officer Md Habibur Rahman however denied that they were destroying the parks and claimed that they were only making them more convenient for the public.

"For example, we are constructing the toilets at Dilkusha Park while leaving some open space at the same time. Public toilets are very much essential for the healthy environment of such a crowded area," said Rahman.

The Open space, Playgrounds, Parks and Wetland Protection Act 2000 bars any kind of changes in the character of the location. It also says that these places can not be leased out for any business purpose.

The Town Improvement Act 1953 meanwhile says that the DCC is responsible for maintenance of the parks and playgrounds.

"As per the law, the DCC has no right to construct buildings on the open spaces or make changes to their characters," said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, director programme of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).

Rajuk's chief engineer M Emdadul Islam said that they were surveying how many parks were handed over to the DCC.

"Actually we face lots of embarrassing quarries from the plot owners. Some seek explanations as to why parks near their plots have been demolished or no longer exist," Islam said.

Environment experts believe that a densely populated city like Dhaka requires around 40 per cent open area while the capital has less than one per cent.

"The authorities should shed this attitude of grabbing open spaces. Otherwise the city will loose its livelihood," commented Abu Naser, secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa).

Naser felt that the ideal authority for conserving and maintaining open spaces and playgrounds should include representatives from the DCC, Rajuk and the civil society.