Rajuk seals off businesses in Uttara residential area

The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) sealed off scores of businesses and commercial establishments on Garib-e-Nawaz road in Uttara yesterday with the aim to reclaiming basement car parking spaces of residential buildings in the area.

The eviction drive was conducted following instructions from the Prime Minister's Office, said Rajuk Chairman GM Joynal Abedin Bhuiyan.

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Replying to a question, he said, "Such drives would be carried out in Gulshan and Dhanmondi too… we have got the signal from the top authorities."  

The Rajuk team sealed off supermarkets Meena Bazar and Swapno, a Trust Bank branch, a hospital, and many small shops on the road, which is dotted with different types of commercial establishments and schools.

Shaheen Khan, chief operating officer of Meena Bazar, said, "Sudden closure of businesses in this manner won't solve the problem."

He said, "Commercialisation of main roads remains a reality all across the capital city."

Such commercialisation of residential properties grew with hundreds of business establishments over the past decade in Banani, Gulshan, Lalmatia, Dhanmondi, and Baridhara while Rajuk has been a silent spectator, he said.

Asked why they set up a supermarket at a residential building, Khan said, "Running commercial establishments at residential buildings has been going on for years under the very nose of Rajuk."    

When asked why Rajuk allowed it to happen for years, Bhuiyan said he could not respond to what happened in the past, adding that Rajuk and Dhaka city corporations had already started enlisting residential buildings being illegally used for commercial purposes.    

Quamrul Huda, Rajuk's executive magistrate, who conducted the mobile court, said illegally extended portions of buildings were dismantled, and commercial businesses at residential buildings in violation of rules were sealed off.

Action was also taken against the grabbers of footpaths, he said.

About the sudden drive, Huda said, "Prior notification is not required in case of mobile court action."