Bashundhara Sports City has become one of the largest and modern sports cities not only in the country but also in South Asia. This complex built on an area of ​​about 300 bighas in the heart of the capital has already become a symbol of new dreams in the country's sports arena.
After construction started in 2021, Bashundhara Sports City is now a visible reality. Modern infrastructure has been developed here for various sports including cricket, football, swimming, hockey, athletics, futsal, badminton, basketball, kabaddi, volleyball, squash, martial arts, judo, taekwondo.
The cricket part is a different wonder. Green fields, double-storied pavilions, open galleries, huge indoor facilities, outdoor pitches — all in all, one of the best cricket infrastructures in the country is here. Apart from organizing various tournaments regularly, activities of Bashundhara Cricket Network are also going on in full swing.
The international cricket stadium with a capacity of 25,000 spectators under construction in the South Zone has already come into discussion. Adjacent to it are practice fields and indoor net practice facilities. Former BPL champions Rangpur Riders also trained here.
The new center of international football
Bashundhara Kings Arena is now one of the main football venues in Bangladesh. It has been used as the home venue of the Bangladesh National Football Team during the renovation of the National Stadium. International matches of countries like Australia, Lebanon, Palestine, Maldives and Afghanistan have been held here. Girls clean tournament is also organized in this field. Bashundhara Kings Arena is now known as one of the most modern football venues in the country due to its international standard facilities.
24 badminton courts under one roof!
Another major attraction of Sports City is the vast indoor complex of one lakh square feet. Where 24 badminton courts can be operated simultaneously. Arrangements have also been made to organize eight mini cricket matches by converting these courts if required. Besides, there are 16 spectacular paddle tennis courts, futsal ground, basketball court, hockey ground, athletics track, swimming pool, world famous Gold's Gym franchise, yoga center, children's play zone, food court and cinema hall. Such integrated organization of sports and entertainment is not found anywhere else in the country.
Not just a sports city, but a self-contained urban system
International standard university, school-college, hospital, golf club, shopping mall, supershop, modern restaurant and entertainment center have already been developed in Bashundhara residential area. As a result it has now become virtually a self-sufficient modern city.
According to residents, Bashundhara's greatest strength is its planned management. Strict security, clean environment, well-organized road system, drainage, waste management and civic services are much better than any other area of ​​the capital.
The biggest question now is what will happen under the City Corporation?
A large part of residents of Bashundhara residential area feel that this planned management and security structure may collapse if Dhaka North City Corporation comes under it. They claim that currently Bashundhara Welfare Society is managing security, roads, drains, street lights, waste management, water supply, cleanliness and overall civic services with its own funding. As a result, the entire area is being run in a controlled and orderly environment.
Residents fear that hawkers, illegal shops, traffic congestion, extortion, terrorism and traffic of drug addicts may increase if they come under the city corporation. It risks damaging the current clean and safe environment.
According to them, “Basundhara is now a piece of peace in the capital. Here children and teenagers can move safely. You can go out with your family even late at night. If this environment is destroyed, it will be difficult to bring it back.”
According to them, people are dissatisfied with civic services and security in many areas of the capital. However, due to strict management in Bashundhara, the crime rate is relatively low and the environment is much more controlled.
In this context, former member of Parliament and political analyst Golam Mawla Roni said, “I got the security that I did not get in Dhanmondi even after 30 years, I got it in Bashundhara. I haven't heard of any incident here in the last few years, where the help of the police was needed.”
He urged that orderly system like Bashundhara should not be destroyed.
Future questions
According to experts, managing large planned projects like Bashundhara Sports City and residential areas requires an integrated administrative structure. But how that structure will be developed is the big question now. On the one hand there is the need for modern urban management, on the other hand there is the concern of preserving the current safety and orderly environment. As a result, whether Bashundhara Sports City and residential areas will come under the City Corporation has now become an important discussion not only of administrative but also of civic interest and urban planning.
