A mobile court yesterday evicted more than 30 illegal structures from the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital premises in Barisal.
They fined around 12 drivers and owners of commercial ambulances for illegally parking on the premises creating hurdles in the movement of patients.
With the help of law enforcement agencies and hospital officials, Assistant Commissioner (land) Ashafur Rahman led the drive.
Sources said a group of people patronised by fourth grade staff of the hospital and local goons, had established small restaurants, tea stalls, stationery and grocery shops on the premises illegally.
The drivers and owners of some private commercial ambulances also had been illegally using the hospital premises for parking and maintenance of their vehicles.
Such activities had largely hampered the hygienic environment of the largest public health education and service providing institution in the city, they said.
Sources claimed that drug peddlers throng these tea-stalls that largely hamper the law and order situation in the premises.
Because of the political connection of the illegal businessmen, the SBMC authority had failed to evict them despite repeated attempts, said Dr Kamrul Hasan Selim, acting director SBMCH.
He sought help from the district administration.
Accompanied by Executive Magistrate Md Qamruzzaman, the three hour drive started around 10am.
The court fined Tk19,400 to each of the private ambulance owners under section 209/39 of Consumer Rights Conservation Act and section 52 of Motor Vehicles Act. Similar drives would be conducted in future if necessary, Ashafur Rahman added.
