Dhaka south mayor calls for closing shops by 8pm
He said it could play an effective role in making Dhaka a clean and hygienic city
Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has called for closing all businesses in Dhaka south by 8pm due to the rise in Covid-19 cases.
He made the call while talking to reporters after inspecting the Bangladesh Boys Club ground as part of the regular weekly inspection in the capital's Gopibagh on Wednesday.
Taposh said, "I will make two requests to the people of Dhaka. Since the Covid-19 pandemic is on the rise again, all shops and businesses must be closed by eight o'clock at night."
"We have also issued a public notice in this regard. We want infections to reduce. If all businesses are closed by 8pm, it can play an effective role in making Dhaka a clean and hygienic city," he added.
The Dhaka south mayor informed the press about the ongoing demarcation of canals and box culverts, removal of waste from those, and cleaning of channels.
He said, "Our initial activities were scheduled for March. We think we will be 75% successful by the end of the month. Then we will continue the activities till April."
Taposh demanded the Water Development Board's sluice gates be handed over to Dhaka south immediately and said, "If the 51 sluice gates adjacent to Beribadh are not handed over to us now, drainage will be hampered."
"Once handed over to us, we will repair, maintain, and operate those. We are removing waste and silt at both ends of each sluice gate so that drainage flow is maintained."
He further said, "If they do not hand over the sluice gates, they have to repair those immediately and also do maintenance. Otherwise, those will obstruct our city's drainage system and waterlogging will occur."
"Therefore, we are preparing. We are hopeful that if all the activities are done in a coordinated manner, it will benefit the people of Dhaka."
The mayor also requested the public not to throw waste in drains. "We are cleaning canals, reservoirs, and drains."
Earlier, the mayor visited the central motor garage, the city corporation factory, and Dhalpur city rural slum in Sayedabad.
ABM Amin Ullah Noori, chief executive officer of Dhaka south; Air Commodore Md Badrul Amin, chief waste management officer; Rezaur Rahman, chief engineer; Secretary Akramuzzaman; Shahinur Alam, regional executive officer of zone 5; Chief Property Officer Rasel Sabrin; Chief Revenue Officer Ariful Haque; Additional Chief Engineer Zafar Ahmed; supervising engineers Anisur Rahman and Md Khairul Baker; and councillors of general seats and reserved seats of the wards concerned were also present at the time.