The authorities concerned claim that the delay is due to inadequate funds, weather and other problems experienced during the last few years.

The community centre project had started in September 1995 with a budget of around Tk 2.65 crore. The completion deadline was one year but work abruptly stopped within a few months.

"The contractors stopped their work after being threatened by local hoodlums who had seized materials and equipment. They were only willing to return the stuff in exchange of a huge sum of money," said Golam Hossain, Commissioner of Ward 27.

The contractors soon left the site leaving the partially constructed community centre unguarded. Within days, the two bigha area turned into a hub of hoodlums, drug addicts and other anti-social elements.

"We were scared to go anywhere near the community centre even in broad daylight," said Karim, a resident of Bashabo.

Even though the work was awarded to new contractors and a fund of nearly Tk 1.13 crore allotted, criminals continued to roam free in its compound especially after dark.

In the beginning of this year, the Sabujbagh police station shifted some of its Ansar personnel to the second building of the community centre due to space constraint elsewhere and that move has improved the situation.

"The activities of the criminals soon subsided and they are no longer seen in that area," said Karim.

Currently, besides being used as temporary residence of officers of Sabujbagh station and some DCC employees, the community centre is also used as a cow-shed by local butchers. A decorator's shop treats it as its store.

The illegal occupation has damaged the plaster which is coming off the walls of the second building. Floating people often creep through the openings in the walls and pollute the area. The swamp at the back of the main building swells during the monsoon and damages the walls of the main building and the boundary.

"The authorities are to be blamed for the existing problems which would not have occurred if the construction was completed on time," said a resident of Bashabo.

Locals have no other option but to rent community centres in neighboring areas like Mothertek, Rampura and Malibagh Chowdhurypara.

"We have high expectations from this community centre as its design is unique compared to other centres," said Nur Ali, another local resident. "The first floor of the main building is supposed to house the auditorium with a capacity to accommodate over 700 guests. The second floor would have a gymnasium and a library. The second building would consist of the local ward commissioner's office and offices of some co-operative associations."

"The contractors have promised that the centre will be completed by August 15," said Commissioner Hossain. He however, could not provide any satisfactory answers for the current illegal occupation of the community centre.