{{Short description|Children's amusement park in Dhaka}} {{Distinguish|Shahid Zia Shishu Park, Rajshahi}} {{Infobox amusement park | name = {{ubl|Shahid Zia Shishu Park, Dhaka|{{lang|bn|শহীদ জিয়া শিশু পার্ক, ঢাকা}}}} | alt_name = | image = Dhaka Sishu Park.JPG | alt = Main entrance of the Shahid Zia Shishu Park | caption = Main entrance of the Shahid Zia Shishu Park, Dhaka | location = Shahbag, Dhaka | region = | source = | coordinates = {{coord|23|44|12|N|90|23|52|E|type:landmark_region:BD|display=inline,title}} | area = {{convert|15.00|acre|2}} | opening_date = {{start date|1979}} | operator = Dhaka South City Corporation | visitation = }}
The '''Shahid Zia Shishu Park''' ({{langx|bn|শহীদ জিয়া শিশু পার্ক}}) also known as '''Dhaka Shishu Park''' is one of the many children's amusement parks in Dhaka City along with many other privately operated entertainment parks and amusement centres in Dhaka.<ref name="Shishu Park">{{cite news |author1=Dipan Nandy |title=Shahbagh Shishu Park closed for over 3.5 yrs: No progress on modernisation |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/no-work-no-play-3028231 |work=The Daily Star |date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623191452/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/no-work-no-play-3028231 |archive-date=23 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> It is located in the Shahbag area of Dhaka City in Bangladesh.<ref name="Shishu Park" /> The Bengali name 'Shishu Park' translates to 'Children's Park' in English. The Shishu Park is closed to visitors and the public at the moment, due to ongoing expansion, modernisation and renovation work, including a large underground car park, additional rides, etc.<ref name="Shishu Park" />
Established in 1979 on {{convert|15|acre}} of land, it is the first children's amusement park in independent Bangladesh.<ref name=star01>[http://www.thedailystar.net/2004/12/19/d41219250497.htm The Daily Star: Shishu Park rickety rides still in use]</ref><ref name=star02>[http://www.thedailystar.net/2003/12/08/d312082506128.htm The Daily Star: Shishu Park to have more fun]</ref> It was established under Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, the Bangladesh government owned tourism promotion agency, by the initiatives of the then President Ziaur Rahman with the aim of creating a "healthy recreational facility for children". It is now maintained by Dhaka South City Corporation as an inexpensive entertainment park for children since 1983.<ref name=star02/>
The many rides of the park include including a wheel train, a merry-go-round and a number of wheel-based rides. Bangladesh Air Force donated a fighter jet in 1992.<ref name=star01/> The cheapest of all entertainment parks in Dhaka, charging a nominal fee of only BDT 10.00 for entry and 10.00 for each ride, it attracts over six thousand visitors a day. During the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays the number of visitors reaches up to three hundred and fifty thousand. The City Corporation earns about BDT 200 million annually from the park.<ref name=star02/> The park is open Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. On Fridays, it is open from 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm.<ref name=star01/>
Renovation works are in schedule for the entire park due to some of the rides deteriorating in condition through time.<ref name="Shishu Park" /> As of 2007, a City Corporation plan to revamp the park for BDT 9 billion waits for approval of the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development.<ref name=star01/><ref name=star02/> The plan includes an expansion of the area to {{convert|19|acre}} and adding multiple new rides besides reinstalling the old rides.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:হাসিনার জিঘাংসার শিকার শহিদ জিয়া শিশুপার্ক |url=https://www.jugantor.com/tp-firstpage/920233 |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=Jugantor |date=23 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250223131248/https://www.jugantor.com/tp-firstpage/920233 |archive-date=23 February 2025 |language=bn |trans-title=Shahid Zia Shishu Park, a victim of Hasina's corruption}}</ref><ref name=star02/> At present, the Shishu Park is closed to visitors and the public due to ongoing modernisation and renovation work.<ref name="Shishu Park" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190120052246/https://www.newagebd.net/article/62238/shishu-park-closed-for-a-year-for-modernisation Shishu Park closed for a year for modernisation, New Age, 20 January 2019]</ref>
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August 2024, the name of Dhaka Shishu Park was changed to its former name, Shahid Zia Shishu Park.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:ফিরিয়ে দেয়া হয়েছে 'শহীদ জিয়া শিশু পার্ক' নাম |url=https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/national/news/774289 |access-date=19 March 2025 |work=Daily Janakantha |date=19 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319124941/https://www.dailyjanakantha.com/national/news/774289 |archive-date=19 March 2025 |language=en |trans-title=The name 'Shahid Zia Shishu Park' has been returned}}</ref>
==Gallery== thumb|Renovation work is ongoing in Dhaka Shishu Park
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{commons-inline}}
Category:Parks in Dhaka Category:Amusement parks in Bangladesh Category:Memorials to Ziaur Rahman