Commercial entities in residential areas to lose licences: Minister

The licences of the illegal commercial entities in residential areas will be cancelled, the LGRD minister said today.

Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain's comment came three days into a cabinet decision to remove all unapproved commercial establishments from residential areas.

The cabinet on April 5 set a six-month deadline to remove all unapproved commercial entities operating in residential areas, after which they would be shut down.

"The government is giving all unapproved entities six months notice for relocation to ensure that they don't suffer excessive losses," the minister said today.

Asked about educational institutes and medical centres, he said a decision would be reached soon after discussion with the locals.

"Since schools and hospitals can be either be commercial or service-based, we will close down only those which, in our findings, will appear to be commercial," the minister said.

All licenses granted to build commercial entities in residential areas has been a mistake and it would be rectified soon, he added.