DE News Desk :
In the wake of the tragic killing of Dhaka University student Shahriar Alam Shammo, the government is moving swiftly to bring Suhrawardy Udyan under a structured and secure management system modeled after Ramna Park, announced LGRD Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan today.
Speaking to reporters at Dhaka University following a high-level meeting with university officials and relevant agencies, the adviser said that access to Suhrawardy Udyan will be strictly restricted after 8:30 pm.
The gate behind the Raju Memorial Sculpture connecting the campus to the park will be permanently closed as an immediate step to limit unauthorized entry.
As part of broader security reforms, the park will undergo a transformation into a modern, well-regulated public space.
“Suhrawardy Udyan has long remained vulnerable to criminal activity, particularly at night due to inadequate lighting and lack of surveillance,” said Mahmud.
To address this, he announced that high-intensity lighting and CCTV cameras would be installed across the park, monitored by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
A permanent police box will also be set up inside the Udyan.
A coordinated series of anti-crime raids will begin from tomorrow, involving the DMP, Narcotics Control Department, and Dhaka South City Corporation.
“These will not be one-off drives. Regular operations will be carried out to dismantle drug and organized crime networks entrenched in and around the park,” he stated.
Mahmud also announced the removal of illegal shops near the park’s entrance and the formation of a joint monitoring committee comprising representatives from the Ministry, Dhaka University, and other stakeholders to oversee the implementation of the reform measures.
Commenting on student involvement in park-related crimes, Mahmud said that past raids have revealed the participation of both university students and some government employees in drug use.
He urged university bodies and student organizations to act responsibly and not shield wrongdoers.
“Law enforcers show leniency towards students, but that cannot be an excuse for unlawful behavior. Cooperation from the university community is essential,” he warned.
On the murder of Shammo, a student of the Institute of Education and Research and a leader of the DU Chhatra Dal, Mahmud confirmed that three suspects have been arrested.
He added that the case is likely to be transferred to a specialized investigative body for swift resolution.
The 25-year-old student was fatally stabbed late Tuesday night after a motorcycle collision near the Muktamanch area of Suhrawardy Udyan escalated into a violent altercation.
He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead shortly after midnight.
“This is not the first tragedy to occur in Suhrawardy Udyan, but we are determined to make it the last,” Mahmud said, calling on civil society, student groups, and university authorities to work together to restore safety and public trust in the park.