Dhaka North mayor says he will resort to strong arm tactics to clear road encroachment

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq has said that he will resort to strong arm tactics to free roads occupied by trucks and sought citizens’ support for it.

“They (truck owners) are behaving like bullies by occupying streets with trucks. Should I now bully them?
 
“I have been a businessman, but I have come here (being a mayor) now to deliver, so I don't mind being tough,” said Huq, who was elected mayor as the Awami League supported candidate during the polls in April.
 
The businessman turned politician was speaking at a discussion organised by the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Saturday.
 
He came down hard on billboard businesses over their street demonstrations protesting removing of illegal advertising boards in the city.
 
“I have spoken to the leaders of the Billboard Association. They sent me an official letter, which said they will remove around the 1,000 illegal billboards.
 
“I told them I am a businessman also and I do not want to ruin you. We have given them three months to remove those, but they did not even remove 50 billboards.”
 
Huq, who had preached for a ‘Smart Dhaka’ during his campaign, said that they have initiated a new project to tackle waste management.
 
“There is garbage all around this city. This city has a huge population and the waste has to be dumped somewhere. No transfer stations have been made.
 
“That’s why the man who collects garbage from door-to-door dumps it here and there.”
 
He said that that they have selected 70 spots in the city for waste transfer stations. “Of them, 14 belong to the city corporation and the rest is owned by different ministries.”