Government threatens to evict 13,000 businesses inside residential areas

The government has sent notices to 12,957 commercial establishments located in residential areas or buildings in cities across Bangladesh.

The responses will be studied before deciding whether to evict them.

It has also been decided not to renew their trade licences or allow any more establishments in these places.

Md Abdul Malek, secretary of the Local Government Division, chaired a meeting of the relevant committee at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

The reporters present in the meeting were told 3,015 businesses in North Dhaka and 1,137 in South Dhaka had been warned. RAJUK, the capital development authority, had warned another 2,400 businesses.

Twenty-six were sent notices by the Khulna City Corporation, 376 in Gazipur, 40 in Comilla, 150 in Chittagong, 58 in Barisal, 26 in Sylhet, and five in Narayanganj.      

The task sending notices to businesses in Rajshahi was still on, said a representative at the meeting.

The Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO) has sent notices to 5,534, while the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) and the fire service notified 112 and 13, respectively.

Representatives of the narcotics department said they sent letters to 51 bars, clubs and restaurants.

A representative of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism said they would discuss with RAJUK the 34 four-star and five-star hotels in Dhaka.

“We will take up this matter everywhere, not just in Gulshan. Implementing the Cabinet’s decision is a duty and is unavoidable,” said Secretary Malek.

The Cabinet on Apr 4 set a six-month deadline for removing commercial outlets from residential plots and buildings.