The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has begun clearing roads and footpaths occupied by several embassies in the Gulshan diplomatic zone to ease pedestrian movement.
DNCC asked eight embassies to clear out pavements, but only the US Embassy and Canadian High Commission complied with the request.
The drive was launched around 11.15am yesterday in the presence of DNCC Mayor Anisul Huq and Chief Engineer Brigadier General Md Syeed Anwarul Islam.
“We launched the drive to ensure pedestrians can walk freely,” said the mayor.
DNCC officials said, based on a writ petition filed by Barrister Omar Sadat in February 11, 2001, the High Court ordered former Dhaka mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka to free all footpaths in the diplomatic zone, as well as other areas of thye city.
In reference to the High Court order of 2001, Gulshan Society President ATM Shamsul Huda on December 15, 2016 submitted an application to Mayor Annisul to implement the court order by evicting illegal establishments on public walkways in Dhaka's upscale areas.
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The DNCC on February 28 asked the foreign missions of US, Russia, Canada, Italy, Germany, France, UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to relocate their security arrangements, as they were obstructing pedestrian movement.
“We asked the embassies to free the occupied roads and footpaths. I'm happy to say they cooperated,” Mayor Anisul told the Dhaka Tribune.
While visiting the site, the Dhaka Tribune found a number of embassies including Russia, Australia and Italy had occupied the roads and footpaths.
Italian Embassy's Deputy Head of Mission Giuseppe Semenza said they were happy to cooperate with the city corporation.
Several bulldozers have been deployed to remove concrete blocks that are located on footpaths and beside the thoroughfares linked together with chains as a security measure.
Imran Ahmed Kakon, a local resident, told the Dhaka Tribune: “I fully support the decision of DNCC authorities, as our roads cannot be occupied by foreign embassies.”