Dhaka’s footpaths seems to be leased out to illegal vendors by a section of unscrupulous businessmen regarding government’s efforts to beautify the public places like the walkaways.
Such situation, a common public nuisance, takes place in the very presence of the law enforcing agencies, magistrates, city corporation officials and other related authorities.
Against this backdrop, the High Court has ordered to submit the list of those who are leasing or selling on the footpaths covered by the two city corporations of Dhaka.
Authorities of the two city corporations and the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) have been asked to submit report within two months. However, the next date for hearing in this regard has been fixed on February 5 next year.
The HC bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo issued the order on Monday (November 21) following a writ petition.
The HC bench also issued a ruling seeking to know why inaction of the authorities concerned to take action against those who are leasing or selling goods on the footpaths should not be declared illegal
Advocate Manzil Morsed took part in the hearing in the court for the writ petition. He was assisted by Advocate Sanjay Mondal, while assistant attorney general Abbas Uddin represented the state.
Earlier on Sunday (November 20), Advocate Manzil Morsed filed the writ petition on behalf of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB). The writ petition was filed following a news item published in the Bengali daily on August 24 under the title ‘Dhaka footpaths are being sold’.
According to the media report, the ‘eviction game’ is going on between the hawkers and the police centering the footpath business. Most of the sidewalks are occupied by hawkers. Daily subscription and monthly subscription are collected from the hawkers.
The High Court in its order asked the chief executive officers of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), deputy commissioner (DC) of Dhaka, additional commissioner of police (traffic), two joint police commissioners (traffic) of Dhaka North and South and officer-in-charge (OCs) of 15 police stations of Dhaka city to take effective action in this regard.
Besides, the HC bench in another order also asked the mayors of DNCC and DSCC, secretary of Home Ministry and secretary of LGRD Ministry to form a five-member higher committee to prepare a list of those involved in business by occupying the footpaths.
The committee will consist of two representatives from the two city corporations, an official of the Home Ministry, an official of CID and an official of RAJUK and the committee will submit the report to the court within the next 60 days.
Alongside lease of the footpaths to the street vendors, many footpaths of Dhaka city remain occupied due to parking, waste dumps and construction keeping of construction materials.