Around 100 illegal police boxes clamp Dhaka’s pavements, traffic islands and circles,obstructing pedestrian and traffic movement in the capital.
The ill planned structures arereportedly built upon an understanding between sections of unscrupulous police personnel and different advertising agencies.
“Advertising agencies find police boxes highly focal to present their messages to commuters moving in the city and pedestrians using the pavements,” a senior city corporation official said, requesting anonymity.
According to the DCC official, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) started constructing these illegal infrastructures back in 2007 and 2008, in violation of then united DCC’s rule.
The police department is required to take DCC’spermission to build any structure on the pavement, he said.
He added that the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) authorities (both South and North) are virtually helpless removing these boxes, which are being built illegally on the pavements and roadsides.
Police however claims that the boxes work as shelter for traffic polices from rain and heat.
The DCC official claimed that both DCCshave sent letters to the home ministry,asking it to take actions removing these structures to improve traffic management, minimise road congestion and ensure safe movement for the pedestrians.
Tazul Islam Pradhan, chief estate officer of Dhaka South Corporation (DSCC) told the Dhaka Tribune recently, “We demolished a number of police boxes in the past, but after just a few days, most of them were rebuilt.
“Most police boxes that rent out space for commercial advertisements are illegally using electricity and water as well.
“Every day, one or two more of these boxes are sprawling up on the city streets but due to police’snon-cooperation, DCCs’ eviction drive stalled.”
A senior secretary at the home ministry declined to discuss the issue when contacted.
Mainuddin Khandokar, additional secretary of the home ministry told the Dhaka Tribune that, he was unaware of any letters from DCCs regarding removal of illegal police boxes in the city.
“The boxes are useful for those policemen who are working in the city to control traffic and ensure security of its citizens. Most of these were built with the help of different sponsors. City corporation authorities are opposing these boxes as they do not get advertisement fees,” he claimed.
