The capital's posh neighbourhood of Mohakhali DOHS is losing its residential characters due to an ever-increasing presence of commercial enterprises.
Inhabitants say residential buildings have been occupied by offices of business houses for years, causing nuisances to everyday life, massive traffic chaos, and environmental consequences, including noise pollution.
"What is alarming is that many dubious businesses, particularly real estate developers, are taking the full advantage of the well-secured neighbourhood and running their business affairs safely while jeopardising residents' safety and comfort," a retired wing commander told The Daily Star, wishing anonymity.
Recently, scores of fruit bearing trees were felled along the DOHS's main access road and around the park to widen roads for an increased volume of traffic.
The retired officer also said the utility agencies were being deprived of due revenues for electricity, water and gas services as they were getting paid for commercial consumption at a lower rate when the connections are for residential use.
The Defence Officers' Housing Scheme (DOHS) was planned as a serene residential area for retired defence officers and civilians. Regrettably, it is now home to myriad garment company offices, buying houses, massage parlours, and NGOs.
In the original layout of Mohakhali DOHS, initiated in the mid-1980s, the roads were designed with some open spaces to nurture greenery. These spaces are now being used up for road widening, said another retired officer, also wishing anonymity.
Brig Gen (retd) Salzer Rahman, president of the DOHS plot owners' council, said businesses were eager for commercial space here because of its attractive location, exclusive facilities and secured environment.
The house owners take advantage of their high interest and rent out residential spaces for commercial occupancy in exchange for much higher rents, he said.
In many cases, non-military owners, who purchased flats from developers, are either using or renting out their houses for commercial purposes, said Rahman.
"But there are no stringent rules to prevent such deterioration and no application if there are any," he said. "We cannot apply force, as most of the residents are socially or otherwise powerful.
"We are fighting hard against the menace and have served notices on several well-known companies and organisations to leave the DOHS."
Since the 1980s, traffic volume has increased twenty times in the DOHS, which have 536 housing plots, mostly developed into seven-story buildings.
Unlike Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Banani and other residential zones controlled by the housing and public works ministry, DOHSs are managed by associated cantonment boards and army headquarters with the help of the owners' council.