Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq has asked shop owners to free occupied portion of roads and footpaths within a week.
The mayor made the call while addressing a views exchange programme in the capital's Gulshan Club on Thursday afternoon.
He said: “If any shop owner, under the jurisdiction of Dhaka North City Corporation, fails to free the occupied roads and public walkways by March 10, legal action will be taken against the owner.”
Annisul said shop owners are major stakeholders who can make Dhaka a clean city. “I am also a businessman, so I know who produces most wastes in the city and occupies roads and walkways," he added.
The DNCC mayor also said that no one would be able to continue business by occupying even a single inch of road and footpath.
He said: “You [shop owners] will have to start freeing roads and footpaths from tomorrow [Friday]."
At the programme, leaders and representatives of different market and shop owners' associations assured Annisul of cooperation.
DNCC high officials and ward councillors were also present at the programme.
