The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) demolished over 900 illegal structures occupying streets and pavements from the city’s Karwan Bazar and Khilkhet areas. Some 350 makeshift shops and structures were evicted from Karwan Bazar area while some 600 makeshift structures from Khilkhet area, DNCC official concerned said.
Influential people mostly leaders and workers of Awami League and its associate bodies Jubo League, Sramik League, Krishak League had been running business, occupying large portion of Karwan Bazar since long. The crackdown led by executive magistrates Sagir Hossain and Sajid Anwar at Karwan Bazar began at 11 am on Thursday.
On the other hand, executive magistrates Abdul Hamid Miah and Julkar Nain led the mobile courts in Khilkhet area. During the drive at Karwan Bazar, the DNCC demolished the offices of Awami League Tejgaon wing, Krishak League, Jatiya Sramik League and Jatiya Jubo Sanghati for encroaching on footpaths. Around 2pm, the authorities evicted a three-storey semi-concrete structure occupied by local truck owners.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the eviction site, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said a multi-pronged team of businessmen, public representatives and police will be constituted to monitor streets and footpaths in Karwan Bazar. He said, "The monitoring team will be formed today (Thursday) if needed. They will regularly check on the areas that were cleared in today's drive to ensure that these remain free from encroachments."
He also said, “The roads of the Karwan Bazar area are very wide. If we are able to keep free these roads, the traffic congestion in this area will be reduced.” “People suffer a lot due to illegal occupation of roads and footpaths in the city. We will not allow any illegal structure on footpaths and roads,” said the DNCC mayor.
“No one will be allowed to do business occupying footpaths and roads causing sufferings to the public,” he added. About the drive, Executive Magistrate Sagir Hossain said, “The drive will only end once all streets and walkways under the city corporation in Karwan Bazar are cleared of illegal possession.”