Just like other villages, when Zinda started losing its environment and greenery to the strong flow of urbanisation, five friends came together and took a step, that made their village stand out as an idol for others to follow
Amidst the growing concrete jungle, Zinda Park is a bridge between the rural and the urban.
Cities are expanding as people are leaving the villages for jobs or a better life. This is also causing villages to disappear very quickly.
Just like all other villages, Zinda, a village in Narayanganj, was also hit by the strong blow of urbanisation.
Situated in Narayanganj, Zinda is in Rupganj Upazila, only 37km away from the capital of Dhaka city.
It was then when five friends came together to do something which turned the village as an exemplary and turned the rural community as an ideal village.
The proposition of the park
The idea of turning the place into an ideal village first hit Tobarok Hossain Kusom, the founder of Zinda Park. His vision was to set up well-established facilities for the villagers.
It is surrounded by three lakes, and it has two more lakes running through the village. And, there are over 20,000 trees of more than 100 different in species.
Kusom then shared the idea with his four school friends – Mohd Nasir Uddin Kazi, Mohd Sahadat Hossain Akand, Mahbubul Alam Kazi, and Mohd Tabarak Hossain Akand. They formed the "Augnibina Students Forum", an association aimed to improve the society. Later, the name was changed to "Orgopathik Palli Samity".
Zinda Park has cottages as well as a little tree house near a lake. Photos: Noor-A-Alam
The samity began its journey with a deposit of Tk60 deposit only. Then, with help of the villagers, they build the park slowly over the years.
Infrastructure
Over the years, Zinda Park constructed everything that it needed. It has schools, college, a library, a community clinic, mosque, restaurant etc. These facilities are managed and run by the locals. However, they are not funded by the locals but generate their own income and created employment opportunities for villagers.
Great venture.