DNCC to act against anyone blocking eviction operations

Bangla Press Desk: Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton says that the campaign to evict hawkers from footpath will continue to ensure the comfort and safety of city residents.

He also warned that no one will be allowed to illegally encroach on the footpaths meant to serve the citizens of the DNCC.

He said, "Action will be taken against anyone who supports such encroachment. A case will be filed over [Wednesday’s] incident, and action will swiftly be taken against those involved."

He made the remarks while addressing reporters on the street near Mirpur-10 at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, bdnews24.com reports.

Clashes, vandalism, and arson broke out near the Gol Chattar of Mirpur-10 amid a drive to evict hawkers.

The incident occurred around 9:30 am as city corporation workers attempted to evict hawkers illegally encroaching on the footpath.

Witnesses said that during the eviction drive, a power line was torn at one point after a dish line wire was removed. The power line sparked a fire that spread to an electrical transformer nearby.

The transformer exploded, causing the fire to spread. Journalists newsgathering at the scene were also attacked.

When the fire started, it sparked a clash between enraged hawkers and city corporation workers.

When police went to the scene, the hawkers also clashed with the law enforcers.

Three city corporation vehicles were set on fire amid the violence. Journalists who had gone to gather news were also attacked.

Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabder, deputy commissioner (DC) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Mirpur Division, told bdnews24.com: "We have received reports that the glass of a police vehicle has been vandalised. City corporation vehicles have also been torched. We are trying to bring the situation under control."

DNCC Administrator Shafiqul later came to the scene and said, “Those who obstruct state work are allies of ‘fascism’. Those who attack journalists and city corporation workers are also supporters of fascism. They have been encroaching in these areas for a long time. No one will be allowed to illegally occupy the footpath.”

After the media briefing, the DNCC administrator, law enforcers, and BNP leaders and activists shouted slogans and marched from the Mirpur-10 Gol Chattar to the burnt building at Mirpur-14.

The clash brought traffic on the road from Mirpur-10 to Mirpur-14 to a halt. A large number of police personnel were deployed in the area.

Around 1:00 pm, the traffic seemed to return to normal in the Mirpur-14 area.