In Banani, children once filled the air with laughter. Skateboards clattered on smooth concrete. The park was alive, a place to run, jump and play. Now, silence dominates, skaters pause, children hesitate. Joy has been replaced by caution.
Cracks split the ground. The smooth surfaces that made skating possible are gone. Small stones and uneven patches wait for a careless step. Children risk falling, and skaters fear injuries. The place that once inspired joy now feels dangerous.
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) built Banani Skatepark to provide a fun space for children. But years after its inauguration, the park has received little to no maintenance. Rain and sun have worsened the damage. Edges crumble, concrete flakes off. The city’s initiative exists in name only, leaving children to navigate danger.
“I love skating, but it’s very dangerous here,” said one young skater, Tajul Islam. “We come anyway because it’s the only spot. But it’s getting harder and harder to skate safely.”
Dhaka has a serious shortage of playgrounds. Every year, new buildings replace open spaces. Every new road eats away at green areas. Children are losing their playgrounds. Parks are not just for fun, they are spaces for movement, friendship and health. Yet, most of them are ignored.
The city corporation has built parks before, but maintenance remains weak. Without consistent upkeep, playgrounds decline quickly. Dhaka’s children are paying the price. Spaces meant for play are becoming hazards.
An organisation named Bangladesh Street Kids Aid runs a small initiative at the park. They help the underprivileged children skate, play, and simply have fun. But the condition of the park is deteriorating day by day.
This decline of Banani Skatepark is a warning. Other parks in Dhaka face the same fate. Playgrounds cannot survive on their own. They need attention, investment and care.
Dhaka needs more playgrounds, and it must care for the ones it already has. Children deserve spaces where they can play without fear. Skaters, runners, and families all need safe areas. Without action, the city risks losing the few spaces left.
