Shajahan gives 72hrs to sand, coal traders to free Beribadh

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday gave 72 hours to the sand and coal traders to free 20km of pathway beside Beribadh in the capital's Mirpur.

"I am angry and I give you three days to clear up the pathway or I will take punitive measures against you," he said while addressing a rally at Gabtoli Bus Terminal.

Dhaka North City Corporation organised the rally to declare roads from Shyamoli to Aminbazar via the terminal free from illegal parking from January 1.

Awami League lawmaker Aslamul Haque recommended bus and truck owners to ensure their own parking space before expanding their business.

He said it was not the government's duty to find parking space for buses and trucks.

In a letter to the lawmaker, the truck owners demanded a separate terminal for about 1,500 trucks before eviction.

Addressing them, he said, "All of you except those using this terminal have illegally grabbed people's land to park trucks."

Aslamul Haque also urged the Dhaka North mayor to impose three times more tax to house owners of Kalyanpur who rent out ground floors to bus companies for counter services.

Mayor Annisul Huq said, "Illegal parking is not the fault of drivers but of owners."

Khandaker Enayet Ullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity, said they would cooperate with the city corporation to keep the main roads free of illegal parking.

He, however, urged the mayor to take problems of transport owners into consideration during eviction.