Disappearing Playgrounds, Denying Right to Play

As playgrounds disappear behind concrete walls or fall prey to commercial interests, many children retreat to mobile screens, not always by choice but often for want of alternatives. The question is whether a generation should be denied its right to play because cities have failed to protect the spaces where childhood belongs.

A City Starved of Playgrounds
Dhaka's rapid urbanisation has come at the expense of playgrounds and open spaces, increasingly swallowed by buildings, roads and commercial establishments.
The Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP) reports that the two city corporations have 235 playgrounds across 129 wards, but 41 wards have none and only 42 grounds are reportedly open to the public. Nationwide, more than 15,000 primary and secondary schools reportedly lack playgrounds, while some existing school grounds remain locked after classes. 
These figures expose how children's right to play is routinely overlooked in urban planning and education management.

Play Shapes Childhood
The right to play is not an adult's favour but a recognised entitlement. Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees every child's right to rest, leisure and recreation, while Bangladesh's National Education Policy 2010 recognises the importance of playgrounds and sports. On March 25, 2026, the Ministry of Education also directed educational institutions to open their playgrounds to nearby children after school hours and on holidays. These commitments must now translate into action.

Playground Shortages Fuel Teen Gang Risks
A study published in the National Defence College Journal on August 18, 2025, identified the lack of playgrounds, older boys' influence and electronic communication as factors associated with teenage gang culture in Dhaka. Although playground shortages alone do not cause juvenile crime, accessible recreational spaces can help steer young people away from violence, drugs and criminal networks.

Time for Action
Occupied playgrounds must be recovered by removing illegal structures and commercial activities. Public grounds should remain accessible to all children, regardless of economic background. Schools should open their playgrounds to local children after classes and during holidays. New residential projects and educational institutions must provide adequate open spaces, while unused public land should be developed into playgrounds. All playgrounds must be safe and accessible to girls and children with disabilities. Local authorities, schools and sports organisations should also arrange regular sports activities and provide trained coaches.

A city's progress cannot be measured by roads and buildings alone; it must also provide children with safe spaces to play. Parents can limit screen time, but creating playgrounds is the responsibility of the government, local authorities and society. Instead of merely policing children's behaviour, we must offer positive alternatives. Every child, regardless of gender or income, deserves access to a safe playground. Protecting these spaces is not simply an urban planning issue but a matter of children's rights, public health and social justice. Restoring playgrounds means restoring an essential part of childhood.