Eviction drives will be conducted across the capital to remove illegal occupiers from the roadside areas and footpaths, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said.
He made the statement while presiding over the board meeting of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority in the Dhaka South City Corporation Building (Nagar Bhaban) yesterday.
The minister said illegal billboards would also be removed from the capital. Initially the drives will be carried out at Gulistan on June 1 and at Farmgate on June 12, he said.
“Leaders of the ruling government and influential businessmen might be involved in the drives. We will first talk to them and then launch the drive across the city from July 1.”
The minister would sit with the authorities of Rajuk, Local Government Division, Local Government Engineering Department, Roads and Highways Department and Bangladesh Railway in a bid to recover the government land from illegal occupiers. The meeting will be held within 15-days.
Talking about the irregularities in the transport sector, Obaidul said he would also sit with transport workers and owners regarding the matter.
However, he did not disclose any date for the meeting
Obaidul Quader also said an agreement would be signed on 15 June to create a regional road connection interlinking Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
The four countries will sign the agreement in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu. The minister said the agreement would pave the way for a European Union-like road communication system between these four countries.
However, the connecting roads will not be used for transportation of goods.
Speaking at the meeting, DNCC Mayor Annisul Haque said commuters never feel that there are any authorities to control traffic system. “Most of the billboards are illegal.”
DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said stressed the need for minimum education for drivers.
Narayanganj Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy complained of not getting spaces allocated for bus stations in Narayanganj. The Road Transport minister castigated the secretary and the chief engineer of the ministry, asking them to take steps to this end by Wednesday.
Among others, high officials of different ministries were present at the meeting.
