100 illegal bus counters sealed

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has launched a strict enforcement drive to free roads and footpaths from illegal occupation as part of its zero-tolerance policy to reduce traffic congestion in the capital.

As part of the initiative, two mobile courts conducted separate drives on Thursday in the Sayedabad bus terminal area and the GPO Link Road in Gulistan, led by DSCC executive magistrates, reports UNB.

During the operation in Sayedabad, nearly 100 illegal bus counters were sealed while long-standing illegal structures occupying footpaths were demolished.

The drive marked the second consecutive day of enforcement in the terminal area.

DSCC officials said the operation followed a decision taken at a coordination meeting held at Nagar Bhaban on March 10 involving DSCC, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and transport owners and workers’ representatives.

The meeting decided to remove all illegal counters outside the Sayedabad terminal and ensure organised allocation of counters inside the terminal premises.

In another drive, authorities cleared illegal structures and temporary shops occupying both sides of the GPO Link Road beside the south side of Baitul Mukarram Market in Gulistan, reopening the footpaths for pedestrian movement after a long period of encroachment.

Meanwhile, DSCC issued an urgent public notice warning that goods cannot be placed on footpaths in front of shopping malls and markets under its jurisdiction.

The notice instructed shop owners and occupiers to remove all materials from footpaths immediately. It warned that failure to comply would result in cancellation of trade licences and other legal actions under existing laws.

DSCC said the eviction and monitoring drives would continue regularly in the public interest to keep city roads and footpaths free from illegal occupation.