Declare Ctg Circuit House ground open courtyard: Forum for Planned Ctg

Forum for Planned Chittagong, a non-political voluntary citizen's group, today demanded the declaration of the spacious open ground in front of the historic old Chattogram Circuit House as an "open courtyard for all citizens".

The voluntary organisation of Chattogram based professionals, town planners, and civil society members made the demand at a press conference at Chattogram Pres Club yesterday.

While reading out a written statement, Architect Zarina Hossain said the old Chattogram Circuit House and the adjoining 3.89 acres area of open spacious ground had long been an open gathering centre for social, cultural and political activities of Chattogram.

The open space was destroyed through erecting boundary wall and structures following an unexpected decision taken by the then Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) in 1993 to lease it out commercially, she said.

It is to be noted that the land is owned by the defence ministry. The ministry gave no objection when the CCC in 1992 wanted to build a children's park at the space and leased out to a private firm for 25 years.

In 2024, Chattogram district administration demolished the children's park.

Zarina stated that when the Chattogram district administration demolished the unplanned structures, the dwellers of the port city were excited to get the open space.

After the demolition, the administration assured of keeping the ground open for all, she said.

But very recently a direction claiming ownership of the premise has been witnessed while public entrance has also been restricted at this free space, said Zarina expressing her concern.

She said this ground, an important landmark of the city, remained as an open space for all since the very beginning of establishment of the city.

Mentioning that there are very limited open spaces in the port city, she demanded that no structure is built on the ground and to turn it as an open courtyard for all citizen.

Veteran educationist Professor Sikandar Khan, also president of the organisation, said, "From our childhood we have seen this ground as an open public space where people of all ages used to visit."

He demanded for keeping the ground open for all.

Engineer ABMA Baset, Architect Ahmed Zillur Chowdhury, former Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Member Md Zafar Alam, Professor Monzurul Kibria were present at the press conference among others.