Villagers in Tangail's Babupur Raise Subscriptions to Buy 60 Decimals of Land for a Permanent Playground
Without waiting for any government allocation or any institution's donation, the people of Babupur village in Deuli Union of Delduar Upazila, Tangail, have raised subscriptions according to their ability and bought 60 decimals of land for children, adolescents and young people. Rich and poor alike in the village united to realise the dream of a permanent playground.
More than seven hundred families live in Babupur village, with a population of over three and a half thousand. Despite so many residents, there was no permanent playground for children, adolescents and young people. They could play on empty land after the paddy harvest, but playing would stop once cultivation of new crops began.
SM Iqbal Mahmud, a son of the village, and sports personality Khorshed Alam came forward to solve this long-standing problem. The initiative began from their discussions. Later, after exchanging views with the villagers, the decision was taken to buy land.
At a views-exchange meeting held on September 8, the villagers promised financial cooperation according to their ability. Fund collection began after that.
Some gave 200 taka, some 500 taka, some one thousand taka; others cooperated with two thousand, five thousand or even up to 10 thousand taka. With everyone's combined financing, 60 decimals of land were bought from the village's Iqbal Hossain Sujon.
The price was set at 52 thousand taka per decimal. The landowner also donated one decimal of land to the initiative. He was paid 30 lakh 68 thousand taka as the price of the remaining 59 decimals.
On Thursday, October 29, the land was formally handed over to the villagers. Playing musical instruments, hoisting the national flag and welcoming the initiators and elders with flower garlands, the village people joined in joyous celebration.
The initiators' plan does not end here. They aim to buy another 60 decimals of land beside the field. They dream of building a quality playground with a total of 120 decimals of land.
