Halt construction on Pragati Sarani
It is surprising to learn that the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has begun constructing a ward office occupying the footpath and a part of the Pragati Sarani near Baridhara point. According to a report, the DNCC initially planned to set up a garbage depot at the site but changed the plan after protests from residents. Later, it decided to turn the spot into an office for the corporation's employees at ward 18, ignoring complaints about the footpath's occupation and its impact on traffic and pedestrian movement.
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While we grew accustomed to seeing such protector-turned-violator conduct by public institutions during the Awami League rule, its recurrence now shows that authoritarian tendencies still persist. The site in question is one of the busiest stretches of road in the Baridhara diplomatic zone. Building on a public right of way by cutting down trees, pouring concrete, and installing pillars—without any impact assessment on traffic or pedestrian safety—is not just a case of bad judgement; it is a violation of the very idea of public space. We must also ask, if the corporation itself starts grabbing roads and footpaths, what moral authority does it retain to act against the many encroachments that choke Dhaka every day?
While talking to this daily, an urban planner has rightly termed the DNCC move as "equivalent to committing a crime." He pointed out that DNCC could have rented a space temporarily while exploring more viable long-term options. But instead of choosing a rational path, it is opting to occupy a public road. When asked, the DNCC administrator has said that he does not support any establishment there, and that DNCC is searching for an alternative location for both the garbage depot and the office. But he has not clarified whether the current project has been shelved. Clearly, this is not just an encroachment problem; it is also a governance problem. A government agency cannot simply break the law it is mandated to enforce.
We, therefore, call upon the DNCC to immediately suspend the construction, reopen the footpath, and restore the road to public use. If there has been abuse of power by any official or contractor, it must also be investigated. The corporation must decide where the office will go through a transparent process, based on urban planning norms and community consultation. As things stand, Dhaka's road space is already among the most scarce in the world. The DNCC or any other state agency must not exacerbate the problem, and must demonstrate, through action, that the era of arbitrary abuse of public space is over.
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