Rights activists have criticised the arrest, and release only after 13 hours, of Syeda Ratna who registered a protest to protect Tetultala playground at Kalabagan in the capital.
They also raised questions about citizens being picked up without any allegations, what 'obstructing government duties' entails, why a woman was picked up without any allegations, why a bond was taken pledging not to launch any movement.
The activists also urged the authorities not to build a police station on the Tetultala playground and for legal action against the arresting of Ratna.
They made these remarks at a press conference held on Monday at Dhaka Reporters' Unity protesting the building of a police station on the Tetultala playground.
ALRD, BAPA, BELA, ASK, BLAST, Green Voice, Nijera Kori, Nagorik Uddyog, Naripokkho, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, Human Rights Support Society and TIB organised the press conference.
The field in Kalabagan is located in a lane opposite Square Hospital. It is an open space known as the Tentultala field. Local children used to play there. In addition, various social programmes, including Eid prayers and janaza are held in the field.
Earlier on 31 January, some members of police punished some children for playing in the Tentultala field. Four members of police were suspended after a video of punishing the children went viral on social media drawing strong criticism all over the country.
Dhaka district administration has recently allotted the land for the construction of its own building for the Kalabagan police station under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Local resident Syeda Ratna has been launching a movement for protecting the playground and social and cultural activities. She is a member of Udichi. Ratna and her son were detained at around 11.00am on Sunday and were taken to the Kalabagan police station for protesting the construction of a wall in a playground. They were released in the face of protest in midnight taking bond from them.
Different organisations protested the arrest of Ratna without any allegations against her.
In the press conference, it was revealed that mobile phones of Kalabagan police station officials were switched off yesterday. None was responding. Those who went to the police station to look into the matter, were reportedly obstructed from entering the police station.
BELA executive director Rizwana Hasan said people are being harassed for working on the environment. To take away a playground in a country which is on the list of unlivable countries, is akin to committing suicide. Will the authorities answer where the local children will play?
About the arrest of Ratna, the BELA executive director said, "We once again witnessed the trend of picking up people. Legal action could be taken against her if she violated any law. But police simply picked her up, and they even took her son too."
Demanding a neutral investigation into the yesterday's incident and punishment to those who are responsible, Syeda Rizwana Hasan said they would take legal action in this regard.
According to the bond, no movement can be waged to protect the playground.
"We claim it as democracy. On the contrary, we also say that no movement cannot be launched to protect the playground. Then a list should be published with the issues that allows waging a movement," she said.
Rizwana Hasan also said, "Two citizens can be kept under detention here. But won't there be a culture of offering apologies in this country? won't they say that they are ashamed or sorry? Two citizens were detained illegally and released on bond. This is preplanned. This has been done to frighten others of the locality."
Nijera Kori coordinator Khushi Kabir said, "Is might the right that only known person will be spared? Has not a common person right to get justice? Does not the law take its own course?
When asked about the press conference after release of Ratna, Khushi Kabir said people will ask, will seek answer. "We have to say what measures are in place to protect the rights of the people."
Police are called the friends of people. If they are really friends of people, they should come forward to protect playground first, hopes Institute of Architects Bangladesh president Mubasshar Hussain.
Mentioning that playgrounds are being occupied in the city, he said an instruction was given to open Dhamondi's Sheikh Jamal' playground to all. But people cannot enter there. Where is police there?, he asks.