DHAKA: Dhaka South City Corporation (DDC South) has opened the much-talked-about Dhanmondi playground for mass people.

DCC South authorities on Thursday installed four signboards, tiled ‘the playground is open to public’, on the boundary wall of the playground.

Executive Magistrate of DCC South Atul Mandol confirmed the matter to banglanews.

On April 18, after a demonstration by environmentalists, Dhanmondi Club filed a case accusing them of entering Dhanmondi playground illegally, hampering construction works and creating chaos near private property.

Later, four green activists--Mobassher Hossain, former president of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh; Iqbal Habib, joint secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon; Kamrunnahar Dana, general secretary of Bangladesh Women`s Sports Association, and architect Salma A Shafi--surrendered before court and got bail.

In 2004, following submission of a petition by Bapa and IAB, the High Court directed the then city corporation to free Dhanmondi playground from illegal occupation by Sheikh Jamal Club.

In March 2011, the court again ordered the DCC, the Public Works Ministry and the club authorities to remove all illegal structures so that the ground remained open to all.

BDST: 1845 HRS, APR 24, 2014