DNCC administrator vows no compromise on clearing illegal footpath occupation

Bangla Press Desk: Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md Safiqul Islam Khan on Saturday vowed to restore Dhaka north footpaths for public use evicting illegal occupants from there.

He said the DNCC had earlier served notices to those occupying footpaths for business purposes, but they had not taken effective measures in response, UNB reports. 

 “Now there will be no more notices. Wherever a footpath is occupied, mobile court drives will be conducted to remove the illegal occupation and restore the footpaths for public use. There will be no compromise on this issue,” the administrator warned.

He made the announcement while inaugurating a special cleanliness week organised by the DNCC in the city’s Mirpur area to destroy and prevent dengue larvae.

The DNCC administrator said footpaths are meant for pedestrians and people have the right to use them safely.

Noting that the people are the source of all power, he said the DNCC will cooperate with the Prime Minister to implement his pledge.

“If anyone tries to obstruct the country’s development, we will collectively face it with the people,” he said.

In this time, the DNCC administrator vowed to make the city dengue-free within three months and free its footpaths from illegal occupation.

“We’ve (DNCC) have been conducting cleanliness drives and awareness campaigns every day to make Dhaka North dengue-free within three months as announced by the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman,” he said.

Citing that the DNCC has been working for the last three months to make Dhaka North dengue-free, he said mobile courts led by 10 executive magistrates are conducting drives at residential buildings, educational institutions, business establishments and other institutions to legal action where larvae are found.

Safiqul Islam also called for collective efforts by city residents, saying open letters will be distributed through local representatives and regional officials to raise awareness among city dwellers against dengue.

Following the inauguration of the special cleanliness week, the DNCC installed special waste bins under the metro rail to encourage shopkeepers to dispose of their waste at designated places.

A rally was also brought out under the leadership of the DNCC administrator.

Later, an eviction drive was conducted against illegal stalls at Mirpur-10 Falpatti area. The administrator said such stalls would be removed again if they reappeared.

The DNCC administrator also expressed annoyance over posters and leaflets fasted on metro rail pillars by various businesses and political groups.

He directed officials to remove all illegal posters from metro rail pillars within 72 hours, saying the DNCC would take all necessary measures to maintain the city’s beauty and cleanliness, said a press release.