DNCC conducts eviction drive on sidewalks in Agargaon

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) conducted a mobile court on Tuesday, aiming to free up the walkways (on both sides of Syed Mahbub Morshad Sarani Road from Agargaon to Shyamoli Shishumela) from illegal establishments.

Tajwar Akram Sakapi Ibn Sajjad, executive magistrate of DNCC led the eviction drive on Tuesday morning.  

During the drive—from 11 am to 2.30 pm— two bulldozers were used to demolish illegal shops and other sidewalk-occupying structures. Members of law enforcement agencies and DNCC were present during the operation.

According to pedestrians, though the city corporation's eviction drive had caused some traffic congestion on the road, they were happy about long-occupied sidewalks being freed.

"Today's temporary traffic jam is nothing compared to what we've gone through all this time," they said.

Commenting on the drive, Executive Magistrate Sajjad, told The Business Standard: "The road from Agargaon to Shyamoli Shishumela is meant to be 150 feet, with wide sidewalks on both sides. But the reality is different."

"We have evicted at least 60 illegal establishments that occupied the sidewalks," he said adding that another eviction drive will be conducted in adjacent areas next Thursday.

Waste removal activities continue in both city corporations

Meanwhile, DNCC and DSCC (Dhaka South City Corporation) authorities are continuing their waste removal operations in the canals and culverts of the city.

The canals and culverts were handed over to the city corporation authorities on 31 December.   

Commodore M Saidur Rahman, chief waste management officer, DNCC, told TBS that the corporation is currently conducting the operation in five canals.

About 150 tons of waste are being removed every day, he added.

Regarding the DSCC's waste removal activities, its Chief Waste Management Officer Air Commodore Md Badrul Amin said, "We are removing the waste at night from a few spots. We have opened up five points at Shilpakala Academy, where about 100 tons of waste have been removed."

"So far, waste has been removed from 14 pitches of Panthakunj culvert. We are doing the work manually from the Gopibagh point of Titipara to the Manda canal."

He also said that waste removal from Shampur canal will start next week.