Construction work hindered
If a picture speaks a thousand words than the two pictures appearing in this paper's back page on Saturday speak volumes about how even the administration is helpless against party clout. The pictures show the interrupted construction work of a pavement in south Tejgaon in the capital, reportedly, because in the way stand various offices of a political party. And the DCC does not have the nerve to remove them because most of them happen to belong to party appendages of the ruling Awami League.
The spots these offices occupy are public property and this is fairly representative of the general picture of illegal occupation of public land by ruling party activists. And this behaviour is not restricted to any particular regime. We have seen this happen during every regime, and continue to happen, with impunity.
It is, however, even more worrisome when the administration seems helpless, or unwilling, to take necessary action to remove the illegal structures. We have seen instances where demolition of illegal structures by the DCC or RAJUK had to be called off, or illegal occupation of playgrounds or public places could not be vacated, because those in illegal occupation were linked to the ruling party.
We find this situation rather reprehensible. We feel that not only the area in question in the said picture but all other spots or areas that houses illegal structures belonging to political parties or their affiliate bodies must be cleared. Public places belong to the public and it seems odious that political parties that foam in the mouth talking about serving the people would act in a manner which hampers the services provided to the community.
Public institutions must uphold public interest. The illegal occupations must not only be vacated but necessary action must also be taken against those in illegal occupation.
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