DNCC demolishes over 200 illegal establishments in Mirpur
Locals complained they were not informed about the demolition or eviction
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) authorities demolished more than 200 illegal houses and shops in the Nannu Market area of Pallabi in Mirpur-11 on Thursday.
People present there during the eviction drive said locals protested when a tin-shed shop on the sidewalk was bulldozed at around 10am. At one point, they started throwing stones and DNCC men and the police had to retreat. Police were deployed in the area in the morning, fearing the situation could worsen.
When the situation got out of control, the DNCC mayor reached there, talked to the locals and normalised the situation. Later the eviction campaign started again.
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Locals complained they were not informed about the demolition or eviction.
However, DNCC Executive Magistrate Tajwar Akram Sakapi, who took part in the operation, said as per the city corporation's master plan there should be 68-foot roads, which has been reduced due to illegal occupation. That is why illegal establishments on footpaths on both sides of the roads have been evicted.
Mentioning that the city corporation officials had verbally informed about the demolition of the shops a day earlier (Wednesday), some homeowners and traders said it was not possible to remove the goods in a short time.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam said the locals also have support for the eviction drive in the larger interest. Only some unscrupulous individuals are obstructing out of self-interest. Notices were sent to them but they did not pay heed to those.
Meanwhile, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has said a community centre would be set up in all the wards of Dhaka South.
"We will build a new five-storey community centre in all the 37 wards, including 18 new ones, where there is no community centre. There will be a counsellor's office on one floor and an 'Instant Healthcare Centre' on another floor so that the building becomes a one-stop service centre for receiving all the service of the corporation," the mayor said at a function at Nagar Bhaban on Thursday afternoon.
It may be mentioned that the city corporation authorities have taken an initiative to renovate six of the existing community centres and build new community centres in other wards.
