Anwara Park, located in the bustling Farmgate area of Dhaka, is set for a significant redevelopment after nearly eight years of neglect. The park, named in honor of Anwara Begum—a martyr of the 1969 mass uprising—had been closed since 2018 to accommodate metro rail construction and serve as a project office. However, it remained abandoned, littered with debris and devoid of basic amenities until it was formally handed back to the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on January 9, 2026.

Currently, the park is undergoing renovation under a project led by the Public Works Department (PWD) with an estimated budget of Tk10.11 crore. Officials anticipate the redevelopment will be completed by 2028, turning the space into a green public area featuring a Miyawaki forest, football turf, running tracks, and walkways. The plan also targets scientific landscaping, improved drainage systems using water-sensitive urban design, and enhanced access including facilities for wheelchair users.

The park’s current condition portrays a stark contrast to its planned future. The entrance, a narrow gap between a mosque and a dilapidated public toilet, gives little indication of the sizable green space lying beyond. The area, roughly the length of two football fields, remains cluttered with construction debris reportedly left over from the metro rail project, abandoned vehicles, scattered rubbish, and patches of scorched ground. Despite the lack of official maintenance, local residents, including young sports enthusiasts, use the area informally for football, cricket, and gatherings.

Mohammad Adnan Hossain, a 12-year-old resident who frequents the site, described how local children and students organize sports activities there, noting the absence of government-led cleaning efforts. Vendor accounts and residents, however, painted a more mixed picture. A long-standing vendor across the street recalled the park’s former state as a shaded retreat, regretting its current use primarily for sports and its reputation as a gathering spot for drug users, particularly since August 2025. Security measures such as occasional lockdowns by city corporation and metro rail staff have limited access but have not stopped local players.

The redevelopment plan includes renovating the adjacent public toilet and mosque, with an emphasis on aesthetics and functionality. Fariba Halim Aurin, a PWD staff officer, emphasized that the project—endorsed during a recent meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office—aims to transform the park into a green, inclusive urban space inspired by international examples of park design. Executive engineer Nahid Parvez noted the urgent need to clear remaining rubble before construction begins, targeting a project start in December 2026 and completion within 18 to 24 months thereafter.

By introducing new green infrastructure and recreational facilities, authorities hope the revitalized Anwara Park will become a vital “lung” for the Farmgate area, providing much-needed open space amidst Dhaka’s dense urban environment.