Shahbagh Police Station to remain at Suhrawardy Udyan with adjustments

Shahbagh Police Station will remain at its current location in Suhrawardy Udyan, but it may be reoriented to face north, according to a decision made during an advisory council meeting today.
The meeting, held at the Chief Adviser’s Office and chaired by Prof Muhammad Yunus, reversed a previous plan to relocate the station.
Under the government of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the police station was to be moved to an area behind Sakura Restaurant in Paribagh, adjacent to the InterContinental Hotel. However, the current council approved a proposal to keep the station within Suhrawardy Udyan, aligning it with the “Independence Monument Construction Project” being undertaken by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and implemented by the Public Works Department.
Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid provided details during a press briefing at the Secretariat after the meeting. He explained that while the station will remain in the vicinity, it will be repositioned for convenience, taking up minimal space. Advisers plan to visit the site to finalise the new orientation and location.
The secretary said that the existing site of the police station is in poor condition and is currently used for dumping broken vehicles, which will be cleared as part of the project. The flower market in the Shahbagh area will also be reorganised to improve the surroundings.
The earlier relocation plan, approved on June 3 during Sheikh Hasina’s administration, aimed to move the station from its current location at Shahbagh intersection to accommodate the Independence Monument Construction Project. However, the proposed site behind Sakura Restaurant was deemed impractical due to its proximity to a busy intersection and an international-standard hotel.
“Ensuring the preservation of Suhrawardy Udyan’s beauty and its historic significance remains a priority for the government,” Abdur Rashid said. He added that the new police station design would prioritise minimal disruption to the park’s environment and aesthetics.