Rajuk drive stumbles on stay orders

The special drive by Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) against 198 buildings is being hampered for the stay orders from the High Court (HC).
Rajuk launched the drives Sunday on request from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) that identified 198 buildings where the parking spaces have been used for other purposes while the office vehicles are parked on roads causing traffic congestion.
In separate drives, Rajuk authorities have also been searching for buildings with no parking space at all.
Soon after Rajuk authorities issued notices on October 3, many of the listed owners thronged the HC and sought stay orders upon the Rajuk-DMP moves.
Rajuk Magistrate Rokon-Ud-Dowla, who is leading the drives, said, "We can do nothing against the HC orders though our task remains incomplete."
Talking to The Daily Star, Rajuk Director (Development Control) SK Abdul Mannan said, "The HC orders are severely obstructing the on going drive to contain traffic jam."
Asked, he said, "We are yet to receive the copies of the stay orders to determine exactly how many orders have been issued from the HC. When our officials reach a certain spot the building owner shows us his copy of the order while we have none to verify."
According to the DMP list, the government owns many of the listed buildings while others belong to banks, hospitals, business centres and educational institutions.
Sources said the DMP made a list of 344 buildings located on busy thoroughfares and of them, 198 abuse car parks while the rest have no spaces for parking.
Rokon-Ud-Dowla said apart from those 198 buildings, they have been conducting separate drives against the buildings, which did not leave any space for parking.
Rajuk officer Aminur Rahman authorised for Dhanmondi zone said whenever they find such buildings in the area they would go for action. They have forced 150 building owners to make space for car park.