Rajuk’s year of eviction addiction

Ignoring the recommendations from the country’s apex business association leaders, business owners, prominent urban planners and architects, Rajuk carried out evictions in Dhanmondi, Gulshan and Uttara Residential Model town. There are allegations that officials have received bribes to overlook some establishments while cracking down on others. At the time of a special eviction drive in the city’s residential areas from July 25 to August 31, Rajuk targeted around 2,400 businesses Dhanmondi, Gulshan and Uttara. Rajuk started the drive upon instructions from high ups after the terror attack at Holley Artisan Bakery in Gulshan on July 1. On April 4, Rajuk had announced that all of Dhaka city’s unauthorised commercial establishments, including residential hotels and private universities would be moved out of residential areas within the next six months. The mobile courts of Rajuk conducted at least 20 drives in Dhanmondi, Gulshan and Uttara Residential Model Town, demolishing or shutting various businesses including educational institutions of every level. Rajuk has so far shut around five residential hotels, 17 restaurants, eight educational institutions and 38 other establishments including offices, showrooms, super-shops, stationary shops, grocery stores, fast food outlets, bakeries, community centres, beauty parlours, saloons, clinics, pharmacies and a gym. Another 40 businesses have been demolished by Rajuk’s eviction teams. Around 1,000 people who worked in these places have lost their jobs. Approximately 20,000 students attended those institutions and were left without a campus in the middle of the school year. According to the estimates given by the owners they have cumulatively suffered losses worth about Tk35 crore. Most owners were small businessmen, who felt that setting up their businesses in these posh areas might have been the biggest mistakes of their lives. In response to tremendous pressure on city land post-Independence, rules segregating residential and commercial areas were relaxed to the point of virtual non-application. Various establishments such as shops, schools, clinics and services grew with various permits from the city in response to daily needs of citizens. Authorities such as Rajuk, city corporation, University Grant Commission among others have allowed commercialisation of Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Uttara. Urban planners have criticised the eviction drives, saying instead of carrying out a sudden drive to evict establishments that will likely leave many people without jobs, the government and Rajuk should instead move forward with a well thought-out plan. Prof Nazrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that many plans and acts had been formed since the 1958 to build Dhaka as a planned city, but none of the plans had been implemented yet. The city planner said Rajuk’s stand was not clear on the city’s residential and commercial zoning. “All the business were established under their watch, but they said nothing to any business owner beforehand. This is not a solution for a planned city,” he said. Nazrul Islam urged the government’s higher authorities to concentrate on decentralisation, otherwise any plan will be fruitful to be reformed Dhaka to a planned city. Prof Sarwar Jahan of Urban and Regional Planning Department of Buet said city regulators should work out plans for a residential area based on its area, number of population and their demands. “The city development acts like as Dhaka Detailed Area Plan (DAP) should be followed to ensure a planned city instead of going for random eviction against business, educational and other institutions,” he said. Dr Sarwar Jahan also recommended the city authorities can also designate some major places and roads for business and other facilities to ensure a planned city. A few weeks after the Rajuk drives, responding to demands of business owners the government said it would increase commercial space in Uttara and Gulshan with a high land conversion fee. Rajuk Chairman Bajlul Karim Chowdhury said there were 11 roads in Uttara and one in Gulshan 2 under process consideration for commercial use. The government has increased the fees to convert land category from residential to non-residential in the upscale areas of Dhaka by seven to eight times over the last few years. Currently, the conversion fee is Tk50 lakh for residential to commercial conversion and Tk30 lakh for residential to non-residential conversion in Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara. In Uttara and Nikunja areas, the fees are Tk25 lakh and Tk15 lakh. Business owners of Dhanmondi say Rajuk’s strategy of residential and commercial zoning plan for Dhanmondi is not clear. Sources in Rajuk said the conversion fee would be Tk25 lakh per katha for Dhanmondi.