Mirza Abbas pledges to reclaim playgrounds as BNP highlights youth welfare in Dhaka

Senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Mirza Abbas has pledged to reclaim and restore playgrounds in the capital, warning that the steady loss of open recreational spaces is having damaging social consequences for young people.

Speaking to journalists on Friday after attending a friendly football match at Arambagh Balumath in Dhaka, Mirza Abbas said the lack of adequate sports facilities was contributing to rising drug addiction and excessive dependence on social media among the youth. He argued that without access to playgrounds and organised sporting activities, young people were increasingly drifting away from healthy lifestyles.

Addressing questions about his plans for the constituency, Mirza Abbas said he would avoid making sweeping or unrealistic promises during the election campaign. Instead, he said his focus would be on practical initiatives, particularly those aimed at the intellectual and social development of younger generations.

Describing himself as a long-time resident of the area, Mirza Abbas said he intended to take concrete steps to recover playgrounds that had been occupied over the years. He alleged that several recreational spaces developed during his earlier tenure had later been seized under what he described as an autocratic administration.

Mirza Abbas said that if elected, he would work to reclaim those sites to ensure children and young people once again had safe spaces to play and engage in sports. He stressed that restoring such facilities was essential to creating a healthier urban environment.

Earlier in the day, Mirza Abbas offered Friday prayers at the Shahjahanpur Amtala Mosque before taking part in door-to-door outreach and public engagement activities. He later campaigned in the Agrani Club Ideal Zone and Bank Colony Mosque areas, joining a procession in support of the BNP’s “Sheaf of Paddy” election symbol.

The remarks form part of the BNP’s broader campaign narrative, which places youth welfare and community development at the centre of its policy agenda as the country approaches the next parliamentary election.