Breathing space for children  

A car-free Manik Mia Avenue is a sight to behold! If children converge on it to run and do what they love to do most, the spot suddenly turns out to be an oasis of innocence cut out from a world apart. On Friday, the oasis became a rendezvous of not only the young ones of the city but also of people of different ages. But when the young ones who seldom get an opportunity of enjoying themselves in a large space unhindered to move around freely and liberally making good use of the sports implements supplied by sponsors and organisations, they surely are the main draw of the show.

The World Car Free Day is observed on September 22 every year since 2006. In line with this, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader came up with the announcement on keeping the Manik Mia Avenue off limit to cars at least for a day. The first car-free day was observed on the first Friday of December, 2017. Since then, the avenue is reportedly kept off limit to cars on the first Friday every month. Last Friday was the first anniversary of the car-free avenue. So, it was a special occasion.

That the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) are involved with this move is quite inspiring. This time Unilever, a multinational company, has become a partner to the initiative with one brand of its detergent prompting the role. Quite naturally, the response from city people is likely to be highly positive and ardent. Had the event been promoted widely, perhaps the avenue would prove too small for the enthusiasts. Understandably, as long as the event maintains a low profile, the space will present a beautiful spectacle.

The involvement of various organisations with the event is an indication of the realisation that the inhabitants of the megalopolis are struggling for breathing space. The city and government planners have collectively failed to leave apart spaces that would have acted as its lungs. Instead, land-grabbers were given a free rein to encroach upon government lands. Even community parks and playgrounds were encroached upon. Some of these spaces were freed from illegal occupation ironically by a military ruler in the late 80's.

However, these local parks and playgrounds have not been set aside for children's play. Of late concrete structures made in different shapes and sizes have changed the utility of those so much so that those have lost the character of any sporting facility. Children have every reason to consider themselves outsiders there. What prompted the authorities to construct the bizarre structures is best known to them but about one thing there is doubt that this will limit the access of children to such facilities.

Dearth of open space for children to run about and play games is responsible for turning them more to video games or similar other indoor practices. No wonder that a study has found that an overwhelming majority of children and youth in this country live without the bare minimum physical activity required at least for an hour. Only 41.40 per cent teenagers were found to have been involved with the required physical activities. Perhaps in the capital city and other cities this percentage will be even lower.

So the elders, particularly the policymakers and planners have to be wiser than they are now when it comes to treating children. The young one must be given the space and sports facilities they need to pursue their outdoor activities. For their physical and mental growth this is a prerequisite. The sooner such facilities are created the better for the young generation.