Authorities have halted a plan to organise a week-long Baishakhi fair at a playground in the capital’s Badda area following protests by local residents, some of whom allege they were threatened for opposing the event.
Equipment and materials for the fair still remain at the DIT Project playground in Merul Badda, residents said, adding that this has continued to disrupt children’s access to the field.
According to residents, work to set up temporary stalls and install amusement rides began on 4 April, ahead of a fair scheduled to start on 14 April. They immediately raised objection citing the playground’s proximity to a mosque, a school and residential buildings.
Organisers allegedly invoked the name of the Ministry of Commerce in support of the initiave. Local resident and sports organiser Shawkat Hossain said he subsequently filed a written complaint with a deputy secretary at the ministry.
On Tuesday, the official ordered the fair to be halted, citing illegal occupation of the playground, Shawkat and police said.
Shawkat later filed a general diary with Badda Police Station on Wednesday, alleging that he received death threats over the phone after lodging the complaint. He said a man named Parvez Hossain connected him by phone to another individual, identified as “Golden Monir,” who then threatened him.
TIMES could not independently verify the allegations. Attempts to reach Monir for comment were unsuccessful.
Local residents said the individual referred to as “Golden Monir” has long been accused of wielding influence in the area, with reports about him dating back to the early 2000s.
Sub-Inspector Md Hafizur Rahman of Badda Police denied allegations that he had issued threats or attempted to broker a settlement between the parties. He said he had only advised both sides to maintain social harmony, noting they were from the same neighbourhood.
Officer-in-Charge Kazi Md Nasirul Amin said police would investigate if a formal complaint was filed regarding any misconduct.
Police said the fair had been stopped and organisers had been instructed to remove all equipment from the playground.
Parvez Hossain denied Shawkat’s allegations, saying he was not directly involved in organising the fair. He said applications had been submitted to the city corporation and the Ministry of Commerce, but the event did not proceed due to lack of approval. He added that the playground would be cleared within a few days.
