Aiming to increase water flow through the Nandipara canal, the mobile courts of the three government agencies have bulldozed a one-storey Dhaka District Parishad market, locally called the Ershad Market, as well as a number of shops during the eviction drive.
Before the drive on Monday, DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said: “We are carrying out the eviction drive as per Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's direction to make Dhaka 'a green, clean and livable city'.”
DSCC Executive Magistrate Khan Md Nazmus Shoeb told the Dhaka Tribune: “Shop owners at the one-storied Dhaka District Parishad market have not renewed their lease term after several notices.
“A notice was sent to them three days ago and an announcement was made to move their goods form the market.”
“But neither the shop owners nor the land grabbers removed their goods. So, we have started the eviction drive around 12:30pm,” he added.
Shawkat Ali, owner of 17 tin-shed shops adjacent to the market, said: “I have legal papers of the land. There’s a legal battle underway with city corporation over it. But before any court verdict was given, my shops were evicted.”
He claimed that he did not receive any notice. However, he admitted that the mayor had made the eviction announcement three days earlier.
Subsequently, Shawkat's son Khorshed Alam has shown their legal papers to this Dhaka Tribune reporter.
Khorshed said that they would continue their legal battle with the government agencies.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, shop owners Ubaidul, Joynal, Rahim, Kajal, Zakir, Shajahan have also expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the government's authorities concerned, as they conducted the mass eviction without any alternative options or rehabilitation.
Dhaka Wasa Managing Director Taksim A Khan and Dhaka ADC (revenue) Shahidul Islam were present during the drive, among other high officials .
Meanwhile, RAB, police and Ansar members were also deployed for security.