New Dhaka mayors move into action

Mayor Annisul Huq yesterday directed the official concerned to remove all illegal billboards from Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas immediately.

“Two thirds of the billboards in DNCC areas are illegal, and they will take steps to remove those shortly,” Annisul said, during a visit to wards 15, 18, 19 and 20.

The DNCC mayor inspected the conditions of roads, street lights, mosquito control activities and waste management in the 

four wards, said a press release.

Annisul also ordered necessary renovation of President Shahabuddin Ahmed Park in Gulshan and effective measures to evict illegal structures from the car parking areas and footpath adjoining Banani Supermarket.

Annis sought help of the ministry concerned to provide them land to set up secondary transfer stations to manage the waste properly.

He said they did not have land to set up the transfer stations.

“There are many lands of different organisations remaining idle for years. We want two to three kathas from those for two years so that we can fulfill our electoral pledges,” he said.

About the drainage system, Annis said the storm water drainage system was not in a good state in Gulshan and sought help from Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) to make the drainage system more effective.

In Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), a nine-member committee headed by Joint Commissioner (traffic) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mohammad Moslehuddin Ahmed was formed to reduce traffic congestion from Shahbagh to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The decision came at a meeting with DMP, chaired by DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon, at Nagar Bhaban yesterday, said a release.

The committee will submit its report within 15 days, identifying the key reasons of the traffic congestion after conducting a field survey.

'NO EVICTION, PLEASE'

Jatiya Hawkers Federation yesterday urged the authorities concerned not to evict the street hawkers without rehabilitating them first.

The authorities should uphold the rights of hawkers and let them use a part of the footpath, its leaders told a rally in front of the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

The federation submitted a memorandum to DSCC with its demands following the rally.

Asked whether footpaths should be given exclusively to pedestrians, President of the organisation Arif Chowdhury said hawkers should get only a part of the footpath.

Addressing the rally, he said, “Hawkers should be given identity cards by the city corporations. The corporations can also generate revenue from hawkers in return.”

He also claimed that there was a law and policy on hawkers' rehabilitation in India.

“Enacting a similar law in Bangladesh can save hawkers from harassment. Professional hawkers would work within a system,” he said.