Eviction of illegal billboards
DNCC dragging feet
Officials of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have allegedly shown reluctance in removing illegal billboards in the city.
With both city Mayors Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon currently in the US to attend an international programme on climate change, DNCC issued a press release on October 3, inviting media to cover the eviction drive conducted by its Executive Magistrate S.M. Mahbubur Rahman at Tejgaon at around 10.00am on October 12 and 14. The press release said the drive was slated to begin from BFDC (Bangladesh Film Department Corporation) gate and end at CDF godown.
However, DNCC officials later said they had postponed the drive due to lack of availability of the police force and the October 14 drive would be conducted as routine work. Deputy Secretary and Managing Director Transport, DNCC, was unavailable for comment and so was Chief Estate Officer Aminul Islam DNCC Public Relations Officer Monwar Hossain told The Independent that DNCCs Estate Department had fixed the schedule as well as made changes.
Meanwhile, some billboard owners in the capital alleged that a clutch of city corporation officials earned Tk. 30,000 to 40,000 a year (kickbacks) in exchange for setting up illegal billboards at risky points.
