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DHAKA: Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator and freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam has warned that legal action will be taken and goods seized if illegal shops are set up on roads and footpaths.
“The time for requests is over. From now on, legal action will be taken against anyone setting up shops outside the designated rules,” he said.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a special mosquito-control and cleanliness drive organised by the DSCC on Saturday to mark its weekly ‘Cleaning Day’. The programme was conducted simultaneously across all 75 wards of the corporation.
Abdus Salam said illegal hawkers and roadside shops were largely responsible for traffic congestion, indiscriminate waste disposal and obstruction to pedestrian movement.
“Residents of Dhaka, as well as the city corporation, want relief from these problems. There will be no scope to occupy roads and footpaths in the name of humanitarian considerations. Goods will be seized and legal action taken against anyone operating outside the DSCC’s designated rules,” he said.
Regarding the removal of illegal structures from roads and footpaths in the New Market area, the administrator said another eviction drive would be conducted there next week. He made it clear that hawkers would not be allowed to occupy roads under any circumstances.
Highlighting the importance of dengue prevention and environmental protection, he said cleanliness was essential to controlling dengue and urged residents not to allow water to remain stagnant for more than three days.
He added that awareness campaigns and rallies would continue alongside cleanliness drives to protect the capital’s environment, control air pollution and ease traffic congestion.
During the campaign, Abdus Salam said a secondary transfer station (STS) had been relocated from in front of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office in Malibagh at the request of CID authorities and in the public interest. The site has been converted into a parking area.
He said construction of a new STS for waste management in the area was under way and expected to be completed by the end of this month.
The Cleaning Day drive began in front of the CID office and proceeded through Shantinagar, Kakrail and Nayapaltan before ending in Fakirapul. The administrator inspected waste removal and the clearance of illegal shops along the route.
DSCC sanitation and mosquito-control workers, along with local residents, took part in the daylong programme. Public announcements and awareness rallies were also organised in various wards.