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Eviction drives intensified against street encroachers


Published : 27 Sep 2019 09:19 PM | Updated : 04 Sep 2020 08:04 AM

The streets and footpaths would soon be free of vendors and illegal structures as the special eviction drives against the offenders have been intensified since last week in the city. Earlier, two city corporations in Dhaka conducted several eviction drives against footpath and street vendors and encroachers. However, most of the drives were unsuccessful due to interference by influential political leaders allegedly belonging to the ruling party.

The city corporation has conducted eviction drives against all illegal encroachers, irrespective of any political affiliation. DNCC mobile court on Thursday demolished the offices of Awami League Tejgaon unit, Jatiya Sramik League, Krishak League and Jatiya Jubo Sanghati for encroaching on footpaths. The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) already identified some 102 places in its territory to free it from grabbers.

They have started eviction drive in its five zones including some 39 places in Uttora, some 12 places in Mirpur, some seven places in Mohakhali, seven places in Townhall, Mirpur and some 27 places in Karwan Bazar area. DNCC authorities started drive from September 22 in its identified areas and demolished thousands of illegal structures till September 27.

Only On Thursday (September 26), 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.  

On the first day (September 22) of eviction drive, DNCC removed more than 300 illegal infrastructures including makeshift shops, shed and stairs at different areas including Sonargaon Janapath Road, Rabindra Sarani, Maskot Plaza and Garib Newaz Avenue. The mobile court also smashed down the makeshift offices of Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League office erected over a walkway on the day.

The crackdown led by executive magistrates including Sagir Hossain, Sajid Anwar, Abdul Hamid Miah, Julkar Nain is continuing at different zones of DNCC. About the drive, Executive Magistrates said that the drive would only end once all streets and walkways under the city corporation are cleared of illegal possession.

On the other hand, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) also started drive in its different region. On Thursday, DSCC authority demolished more than 100 illegal structures in Gulistan and Motijheel areas, DSCC sources said.  City dwellers also praised the City Corporation’s drives against the illegal traders doing business on the roadside pavements.

“People suffer a lot when walking through the pavements as hawkers run business occupying footpaths as well as roads. We are happy to see this drive against grabbers and hope roads, footpaths will remain hawker free,” said Anwar Hosaain, 35, a resident of Uttara area. About the ongoing drive, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said, “We will continue this drive till the footpaths and roads are free of the illegal occupation. We want to create and build a liveable and modern city. No one will be allowed to do business occupying footpaths and roads causing sufferings to the public.”

The mayor also said, “The monitoring team will be formed if needed. They will regularly check on the areas that were cleared in eviction drives to ensure that these remain free from encroachments.”