LGRD adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan today spoke at the Dhaka University campus after holding a meeting with university and concerned authorities. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, May 14, 2025 (BSS) - LGRD adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan today said Suhrawardy Udyan will remain shut after 8pm and discussions are in progress to bring the Udyan under a secure and structured governance system like Ramna Park along with transforming it into a modern park.

"The gate behind the Raju memorial Sculpture, which connects the university area to the park, will be permanently closed as a first step toward restricting unauthorized access," he told media at Dhaka University campus after holding a meeting with university and concerned authorities.
 
The adviser said a series of coordinated raids will commence from tomorrow involving the DMP, Narcotics Control Department and City Corporation.
 
"The operations will not be one-off efforts, but to conducted regularly to eliminate drug-related and organized crime networks that have taken root in and around the park," he said.

Amid the brutal murder of Dhaka University student Shahriar Alam Shammo inside Suhrawardy Udyan, the government has announced a series of immediate and long-term measures to bring the park under a secure and structured governance system similar to Ramna Park.

The adviser said, "Illegal shops near the gate will be removed without exception and that a monitoring committee will be formed to oversee enforcement, comprising representatives from the Ministry, Dhaka University and other concerned authorities."

Highlighting the vulnerability of the area at night, Mahmud said the lack of lighting and surveillance has made the Udyan a breeding ground for criminal activity. "To address this, the government will install sufficient lighting and surveillance cameras throughout the park," He said.

These will be monitored by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to enable quick action, he said, adding, "A dedicated police box will also be set up inside the park, exclusively tasked with ensuring law and order in the area."

To ensure safety during nighttime, access to the park will be restricted after 8:30 pm, he said, adding, "The enforcement of this access control will be carried out with the help of law enforcement officers and Ansar personnel."

"Most criminal activities take place after dark. If we don't regulate entry, we cannot ensure safety," Mahmud said.

Addressing concerns that some university students may be involved in unlawful activities in the park, Mahmud said previous raids have revealed the presence of not only outsiders but also Dhaka University students and even some government employees involved in drug consumption.

He emphasized the need for Dhaka University and its student organizations to act responsibly, calling on them not to provide protection or shelter to those found guilty.

"Law enforcement agencies often treat students with leniency, but if students themselves are not law-abiding, enforcing these decisions will be difficult," he added.

Commenting on ongoing investigation into Shammo's murder, Asif Mahmud said, "Three individuals have been arrested, and the case is expected to be transferred to a specialized investigation body."

"This is not the first tragic incident in Suhrawardy Udyan. Crimes have occurred here repeatedly. Our collective goal now is to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again," he said.

Mahmud concluded by urging university authorities, student bodies and civil society groups to join in a united effort to secure the park. "Only through a collective approach can we bring lasting safety and order to Suhrawardy Udyan," he said.

Alam Shammo, 25, hailing from Ullapara in Sirajganj, was a student of the Institute of Education and Research (2018-19 session) and a resident of Room 222 of Sir AF Rahman Hall.

Shammo, the literary and publication secretary of the AF Rahman Hall unit of Chhatra Dal of Dhaka University, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants on campus late Tuesday.

The incident took place on the road adjacent to the Muktamanch area of Suhrawardy Udyan.

Ashraful Islam Rafi, a fellow student, said he and Shammo was riding his motorcycle near Suhrawardy Udyan when it collided with another bike. This led to an altercation and a scuffle. At one-point, unidentified individuals stabbed him in the right thigh before fleeing.
 
Critically injured Shammo was taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead after midnight.