DSCC, DNCC remove 2,100 shops from Mirpur, Gulistan footpaths 

The Dhaka North and South city corporations on Wednesday removed thousands of illegal shops from footpaths in Mirpur and Gulistan as part of ongoing drives to clear roads and ensure safe movement for pedestrians.

The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) removed around 2,000 shops from footpaths around Mirpur-1 roundabout during a drive that ran from 10:00am to 12:30pm. The drive was led by DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan.

“We promised city residents that we would clear the footpaths one by one. People should be able to walk on the footpaths and vehicles should be able to move on the roads, but shops have occupied these spaces,” he said during the drive.

He said the DNCC had earlier cleared the footpaths around Mirpur-10 roundabout in late September and would continue removing shops illegally occupying public spaces.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) removed more than 100 illegal shops from footpaths near Dhaka Trade Centre and Fulbaria Supermarket in Gulistan.

The drive began at 10:00am and continued until 1:00pm. Four executive magistrates, more than 100 eviction workers and six platoons of police took part in the operation.

Heavy equipment, including a payloader, was used to demolish illegal structures. Goods and equipment from the removed shops were also seized.

DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam inspected the operation in person and spoke to the media.

He said clearing roads and footpaths was part of the city corporation's regular programme. Designated footpaths, night markets and holiday markets had been allocated for hawkers, and they would be allowed to operate only in those places.

“The entire road from Gulistan to Sadarghat will be kept clear, and hawkers will not be allowed on the main road under any circumstances,” he said.

Abdus Salam said the authorities had repeatedly warned hawkers through different channels and held several meetings with leaders of hawkers' organisations.

However, some vendors had returned to the same places after being evicted, leaving the authorities with little choice but to take stricter legal action, he said.

“Goods will be seized and, if necessary, those who violate the rules will be arrested,” he warned.

He added that the eviction and clearance drives would continue to ensure safe and uninterrupted movement for pedestrians.

The programme included cleaning and mosquito-control drives across all 75 wards of the DSCC.

Salam also announced plans for another eviction drive in the New Market area the following week.

During the Cleaning Day programme, the DSCC administrator inspected waste removal and the removal of illegal shops along a route from the Criminal Investigation Department office through Shantinagar, Kakrail and Nayapaltan to Fakirapool.

The programme was attended by city corporation cleaning and mosquito-control workers as well as local residents. Awareness campaigns and rallies were also held across the wards.