Eviction drive in Dhanmondi

Rajuk has, apparently at the behest of Dhanmondi Paribesh Unnayan Jote and perhaps other groups, issued eviction notices to so-called "illegal" commercial buildings in Dhanmondi. But not only within Dhanmondi, but also establishments on Satmasjid Road have been issued eviction notices.

To remove all commercial establishments within and on the outskirts of Dhanmondi in two months is nothing short of madness. Who could possibly think that such a drastic step could solve all the ills of the city? It will destroy businesses, make thousands of people jobless, and devastate the fledgling universities and schools, throwing tens of thousands of students and their parents into an educational nightmare. Not only that, it would also destroy Dhanmondi. Why do I say this? I dislike the traffic. I dislike the mushrooming of illegal establishments, especially within the perimeter of Dhanmondi. I dislike the hordes of people around the lake. I mourn the loss of the houses and gardens. But the authorities must surely realise that the sleepy residential character was destroyed years ago not by business, but by the building of large apartment blocks on top of the lovely houses and gardens. And so it must be, in a huge mega-city like Dhaka. When Dhanmondi was conceived, it was on the edge of the city.

Now it is in the middle of a large metropolis. This is no longer a sleepy neighbourhood. It is an urban centre. All urban neighbourhoods, all over the world, must live with a mix of residences and commercial institutions. And Dhanmondi residents deserve nearby amenities.

I will proudly confess: I like the businesses. I like the fact that kids can go to school nearby, and don't have to commute to far-flung places like Uttara. I LIKE the bookstores and coffee shops and restaurants. I LIKE the shopping malls. I LIKE the fact that I have nearby hospitals of some quality where I can go in an emergency. Anyone who has ever seen an ambulance stuck in cross-town traffic will tell you the same.

These are called services and amenities, and they are as necessary to the vibrancy and livability of a city as the houses themselves.

I saw the press conference by Jote and I asked myself: Who are they really speaking for? For Dhanmondi residents? Or do they wish to go back to the 1970's, when only 1- or 2-storied houses existed, where one had to walk far to get a single rickshaw, where the airport was at Tejgaon, and the population of Dhaka was one million? Those days are long gone. It's time to wake up and realize that, for better or for worse, we live in a metropolis. I'm not saying we shouldn't evict the egregious offenders, or bring sanity to the zoning and approval processes, or strive to make traffic better. But all urban neighborhoods must zone smartly, allowing for access to services and amenities.

Anyone who believes that a massive eviction drive is in any way smart urban planning surely does not understand the necessities of a vibrant urban neighbourhood.