Shops on Roads or Footpaths Will Face Cases and Seizure of Goods, DSCC Administrator Warns
The days of requests are over — anyone setting up illegal shops on roads and footpaths will now face direct cases and seizure of goods, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam has warned in strong terms.
He issued the warning on Saturday (24 October) while speaking as chief guest at a special mosquito-control and cleanliness drive held for the weekly 'Cleaning Day' organised by the DSCC. He also spoke to journalists during the weekly Cleaning Day activities.
The programme was observed simultaneously in all 75 wards of the DSCC. Alongside the city corporation's regular cleaning and mosquito-control workers, local residents took part spontaneously in the day-long programme.
DSCC Administrator Abdus Salam said, "Illegal hawkers and floating shops are largely responsible for traffic congestion on the roads, litter thrown everywhere, and obstruction of pedestrians' movement. The people of Dhaka, and the city corporation, want relief from this suffering. So there is no scope to occupy roads and footpaths by pleading humanity. If shops are set up outside the rules fixed by the DSCC, goods will be seized and legal action taken."
Regarding freeing the roads and footpaths of the New Market area, he said an eviction drive would be carried out there again next week. He made it clear that under no circumstances would any hawker be allowed to sit on the road.
Highlighting the importance of dengue prevention and environmental protection, the administrator said, "There is no alternative to cleanliness in controlling dengue. Water must not be allowed to stand anywhere for more than three days."
He said that alongside the cleanliness programme, awareness rallies and campaigns would continue to protect the capital's environment, control air pollution, and ease traffic congestion. Announcements over loudspeakers and awareness rallies were also held ward by ward on the day.
During the drive, regarding the removal of the Secondary Transfer Station (STS) from in front of the CID office in Malibagh, the DSCC administrator said that, in the public interest and at the request of the CID authorities, the STS has been relocated and parking arranged in its place.
He also said construction of another new STS for waste management in that area is under way and will be completed within this month.
The cleanliness drive organised for Cleaning Day started from the CID office and ended at Fakirapool, passing through Shantinagar, Kakrail, and Nayapaltan. Along the way, the DSCC administrator inspected the cleaning of accumulated waste and the removal of illegal shops in person.
Following the administrator's tough stance, attention will now be on implementation on the ground — especially on the announced eviction drive in the New Market area next week.
