Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday told the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) that the government is committed to freeing the city's playgrounds and footpaths from illegal occupation.

"Since the present government assumed office, the standard of sports in the country has improved significantly. At the same time, children are now able to play in playgrounds. Most parks and playgrounds in Dhaka have already been freed from illegal occupation through eviction drives, and their modernisation is under way," he said.

The Leader of the House made the remarks while responding to a starred question from treasury bench MP for Mymensingh-8, Luthfullahel Mazed, during a sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal.

He said there are 189 parks, playgrounds and open spaces under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).

Of these, 38 are owned by the DNCC, including 24 parks, six playgrounds, four children's parks and four Eidgah grounds.

The Prime Minister said steps have been taken to appoint security guards, install adequate lighting and CCTV cameras, and strengthen public awareness campaigns to ensure safety at parks and playgrounds.

"The 38 parks, playgrounds and open spaces owned by the Dhaka North City Corporation are currently free from illegal occupation and are being managed in a planned manner," he said.

Development work on 20 parks, four playgrounds, two children's parks and two Eidgah grounds has already been completed, he said, adding that the remaining 151 parks, playgrounds, children's parks, Eidgah grounds and open spaces owned by the National Housing Authority, RAJUK and other agencies will be developed in phases.

Tarique Rahman said all playgrounds and parks under the DNCC had been cleared of illegal occupiers and that eviction drives would continue in future.

"There are 256 parks and playgrounds under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), owned by the city corporation and other agencies. Illegal occupiers have already been evicted from these parks and playgrounds," he said.

Referring to ongoing development work at parks and playgrounds under the DSCC, the Prime Minister said notable projects include Malitola Park in Ward No. 35, Shaheed Matiur Rahman Park (Gulistan Park), Motijheel Park, Nawabganj Park, Osmani Udyan, Jatrabari Children's Park, Islambagh Bashir Uddin Park, Shahbagh Children's Park, Haji Abdul Alim Playground, Rasulbagh Park Playground, Jorpukur Playground, Basabo Playground (Shaheed Alauddin Park), Sadeq Hossain Khoka Playground, South Goran Sultan Bhuiyan Jhilpar Playground, Basabo Balur Math, South Basabo, Gazmahal Children's Park, Hazaribagh Park and Amligola Playground.

Mentioning that Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) has relatively few playgrounds, he said educational and religious institutions provide playing fields, while the city corporation allocates funds and carries out maintenance and development work.

"The government plans to establish eight playgrounds across the GCC's eight zones and 57 playgrounds in its 57 wards," the Prime Minister said.

He also informed the House that efforts are under way to free playgrounds and parks from illegal occupation and restore them for public use in Mymensingh, Barishal and other city corporations across the country.