HC seeks list of those involved in illegal allocation of footpaths

Footpaths allocated to small shopkeepers.

Dhaka, Nov 21 – The High Court on Monday asked the authorities concerned to make a list of those involved in renting out or selling spaces of footpaths and collecting money illegally from roadside vendors in the capital city.

A two-member panel of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo also asked the authorities to take action against the responsible.

They passed the order following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

The HC also directed the authorities to form a high-level committee comprising of two representatives from the two city corporations, one representative from Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and one each from Home Ministry and Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

The mayors of two Dhaka city corporations, secretaries to the Home Ministry and Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operative (LGRD) Ministry have been asked to form the committee for finding out the names of those involved in the illegal business.

The HC also asked the two chief executive officers of the two Dhaka city corporations, additional police commissioner (traffic), joint police commissioners (traffic) of Dhaka North and Dhaka South, Dhaka deputy commissioner and 15 officers-in-charge of the city, to take effective steps within seven days by not allowing any illegal establishments or shops on the main footpaths of the capital.

The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the failure of the respondents in stopping such unauthorised activities should not be declared illegal.

Twenty-nine people including secretaries to the Home Ministry and Local Government, two mayors of Dhaka North and Dhaka South City Corporations, Inspector General of Police, Chairman of Rajuk have been made respondents to the rule, which is returnable in four weeks.

Advocate Manzill Murshid, a counsel of the writ petitioner, said the common people are becoming the victim of such anarchy. They are also forced to use main roads instead of the footpaths, causing traffic jams and accidents.

Police are not performing their duties properly, causing sufferings to the people.

Bangladesh Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh filed a writ petition in this regard on Sunday.

Assistant Attorney General Abbas Uddin represented the state. - UNB