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Published : 25 Apr 2026, 02:59 PM
Efforts to clear footpaths for pedestrians are facing “hidden” resistance and propaganda, with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) saying the drive will continue to ease public suffering.
On Saturday at a discussion at a Dhaka hotel, DNCC administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan alleged that "bot IDs" and "non-existent" accounts are being used to spread disinformation.
He noted that while 98 percent of the public benefits from the removal of illegal occupants, a small minority is using anonymous social media profiles to push a negative narrative.
Safiqul pointed out that these "hidden" actors avoid public debate, making it difficult to verify their identities or motives.
Some online claims suggest the eviction drives are merely a tactic to "increase demand" for bribes or that vendors will eventually be allowed to return.
He, however, confirmed that operations to keep footpaths clear for pedestrians will persist regardless of the pushback.
To provide a sustainable solution, the administrator announced a pilot project for hawker rehabilitation in six locations.
Under this plan, vendors will receive registration numbers, QR codes, and ID cards, and will be required to use trolleys rather than erecting permanent structures.
The DNCC chief also detailed plans to end the lack of coordination between city agencies.
He said bodies such as the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA), Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (Titas), and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) will now be informed before city roadworks begin to prevent the same streets from being dug up repeatedly.
Safiqul addressed the mosquito menace, admitting that current fogging methods have limited efficacy and promising the introduction of new, tested pesticides.
He said 19 of the city’s 29 canals have been cleared of waste, warning that those caught dumping rubbish into them will face heavy fines.
The administrator also said he plans to lobby the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to allow the import of “horn-free” vehicles to help reduce noise pollution.
