The Scenario of Zinda Park

Sustainable Entrepreneurship is a business concept built on the businesses operations and practices, which not only protect the social, cultural and environmental values of the society but also foster and ensures the growth and betterment of the socio-economic conditions of the people.

A group of students of North South University entrepreneurship class discusses the various dimensions of sustainable entrepreneurship by considering Zinda Park - a model case of sustainable entrepreneurship. A case study on Zinda Park was published in Sage Businesses cases in 2016, written by Dr. Jashimuddin Ahmed, Sabrina Hoque, Rubaiyat-i-Siddique and Nazmul A. Khan. The stduents analyzed the case as group and revealed the different aspects of sustainable entrepreneurship.

For example, Fariha Ishrat Jahan observed that Zinda Park was founded by five visionary individuals who aimed to do something splendid for the society. It was basically a rural area. Since the rural areas are becoming urbanized, the founders thought how to protect the environment from the flow of urbanization as the village started to lose its environment and greenery and eventually they came up with the idea by turning the park into an ideal village.  This rural community eco-park was established in the early 1980s in Narayanganj.

The park initially started with an area of 1.32 acres of land, which now has increased to 33 acres of land. With the motive of social welfare, the founders' formed a small association named 'Augnibina Students Forum' at the beginning of the journey. After five years they changed the name and turned it into the big committee named 'Ogropathik Palli Samity'. The main objective of the community was social development and provides proper education to people.

MD. Kahfil Aura pointed out that "Ogropothik Polli Shamiti" took some steps that had a great effect on sustainability of the village "Zinda" and the park itself, for example, upholding religious views by shifting from 'micro financing' to "share holding" system, protecting people's religious freedom by establishing both mosque and temples and preserving the bio-diversity and the greenery of the village by preserving the flora and fauna by planting more than 20000 trees and allowing more than 100 different types of species to sustain in the area.  

Fariha Ishrat Jahan further noticed that every year the committee donates a certain amount of money for social welfare. The donation is allocated among 8 Mosques, a Hindu temple, school. Moreover, academic scholarships are provided using these funds to the underprivileged and meritorious students.

The most noteworthy part is a portion of this money is used in conserving the environment by reforesting around the village which is an amazing initiative. Not only that, a certain portion of profit goes towards the victims of natural disasters, such as, river erosions, floods, etc. and to the needy villagers, especially on occasions of Eid and marriage. The donation mainly comes from the income of the park. It is estimated that from its inception till 2015 the total amount of donation given by the community for social development is around BDT 10 million.

Tanvir Islam narrated that Zinda Park can be said as another world for Bangladesh. They changed their society and built their culture, infrastructure and all facilities by their own. People all over Bangladesh should follow them to protect the greenery and built a wildlife sanctuary for the animals.

Shakila ParvinTumpa and her team revealed the strong bondage of the local with the park by pointing out to the conflict arise between RAJUK and the park. They stated that RAJUK authority tried to acquire the park and handover the title of the park to different organization. In such situation, local people put a barricade on road because this would have led to the displacement of numerous families, destruction of ecology and elimination of their source of income generated through the park.

Stakeholders, villagers, and other surrounding villagers raised their voice against RAJUK authority. Finally, RAJUK had to give up its' plan Rakin Iftader and his team revealed a novel dimension in the management of Zinda park. They observed that Zinda Park tried to engage its' employees, visitors and the members with the activities of the park. Members are encouraged to develop new strategies and implement those for the wellbeing of the park.

They also carry out the election system to elect the 18 management personal, among them 10 are in legislative department, 5 are in law and order department and 3 are in judicial department of the committee. Md. Nazmul Hossen and his team believed that this Rural Community Eco Park is the role model for the development of rural centers of Bangladesh. If Bangladesh government took necessary steps for making this kind of project, we can secure a healthy and secured life for rural people of Bangladesh.

Austin Dipta Gomes and his team highlighted the cultural aspect of sustainability. The committee organized an event in 'PohelaBoishakh'. As a celebration the fishes caught from the lakes and are distributed among the local villagers. There is an open area in the park to celebrate different occasions by the villagers.

They have arranged fair for the villagers, shopkeepers of the village setup their stalls in the premises. They have also arranged 'Baul Sangeet' beside a banyan tree in the open area. Zubayed Feroz and his group observed that this park is a place where communities get the chance to embrace nature and is an exemplary concept for saving the nature and also ensuring the social well-being of the people.

Many local people are now connected with the park and it reflects sustainable and bright future of the locality. The initiative of the founder along with his partners has achieved an ecological sustainable platform for Zinda Park and it has been growing with the community ever since it was established. Therefore, it is a classic example of sustainable entrepreneurship in the context of Bangladesh.


Dr. SSM Sadrul Huda is a freelance contributor to The Asian Age