The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has continued eviction drive in different markets by demolishing the structures built violating the main design.
As part of the drive, DSCC on Thursday started demolishing illegal shops in the Sundarban Square Super Market at around 12:00pm.
It was learnt that after evicting the illegal shops at Sundarbans Market, the place will be used as parking spot.
DSCC Executive magistrates Md Muniruzaman, AHM Irfan Uddin Ahmed and Tanzila Kabir Trapa conducted the drive led by DSCC Chief Estate Officer RuselSubrin.
DSCC Chief Estate Officer RuselSubrin said, “About 700 illegal shops have been built violating the original design of Sundarbans Market in Gulistan area. The shops have been constructed by occupying the open space of the market, verandah, toilet, stairs, generator room and parking space. All the illegal shops will be demolished.”
Earlier, On December 17 and December 24 DSCC conducted the eviction drive at the Market.
According to the DSCC, at least 400 shops have been evicted in three days. Most of the shops in the basement have been demolished. Twenty illegal shops have been demolished on the first floor. All the shops built on the fifth floor are illegal. The number of shops on the fifth floor is 292.
On December 16, the city authorities conducted the first operation to evict illegal shops in the market. In order to prevent the eviction, the shop owners engaged four lawyers. They claim that the corporation is demolishing their shops despite the stay order of the High Court.
However, before conducting the drive, City Corporation issued letters to the shop-owners informing them about the drive to shift their belongings from the shops.
In the same area, there are illegal and unplanned shops in three different markets including Gulistan Trade Center (Puranbazar), Adarsha Market and Mahanagar Market.
Earlier on December 7, DSCC conducted a week-long drive to demolish all illegal shops and infrastructure at Phulbaria Supermarket-2 in Gulistan.
According to the DSCC, 911 shops were built in Phulbaria-2 market violating design specifications. The shopping mall design has provisions for 531 shops, including 176 shops each in A and B blocks, and 179 in C block.
But in violation of the original design, 308 shops were constructed in A block, 292 in B block and 311 in C block, according to DSCC’s revenue department.
Meanwhile, DSCC has identified nearly 4,000 illegal shops in 29 city corporation markets out of 86, DSCC officials said. The corporation will evict all illegal shops in phases.
