Makeshift iftar shops occupy Khulna footpaths

Makeshift shops selling iftar items on Khulna city footpaths and streets, particularly several important points and roads, are hindering public and easy traffic movement, ignoring decision of the authorities concerned.Before Ramzan, Khulna City Corporation (KCC), district administration, law enforcement agencies and business community leaders jointly in a meeting announced that they would not allow any makeshift shop on city footpaths and streets during the month.  They said, “Iftar selling makeshift shop owners obstruct vehicular movement during Ramzan every year. These types of shops or business will be not allowed this year.” However, the makeshift shop owners did not pay any heed to the decision, as numerous shops have been doing businesses on the footpaths and streets of Picture Palace Crossing, Dak Bungalow intersection, Shibbari intersection, KD Ghosh Road, Clay Road, Old Jessore Road, Cemetry Road, West Mekot Road, Phul Marker Crossing, Moylapota Moar, Gallamari intersection, BL College instersection, Phulbarigate KUET Road, Daulatpur Bazaar intersection, Phultala Bazaar and Sonadanga central bus stand intersection.  Not only iftar sellers but also other hawkers have started their business from the beginning of the of Ramzan by illegally encroaching the roads and footpaths, adding immense sufferings to the pedestrians.
Altaf, Kabir and Sattar- all roadside food vendors- have been making Iftar items on a gas stoves set up close to a drain at Sir Iqbal Road. Altaf said he does it for money and though it requires a small amount of start-up capital, around Tk 400 to Tk 600 can be earned daily.
President Conscious Citizen Committee (CCC), Khulna district Begum Ferdousi Ali alleged, “Negligence of the authorities and influence of the street vendors and local influential had turned many points of the busy city roads into bazaar.” Traders and hawkers have built up permanent structures selling fruits, vegetables, fish, chickens, cloths, shoes and various food items, she added. Even roadside restaurants and grocery shops occupy a large portion of the footpath, she further said.
Clashes over establishing dominance and toll collection by political activists had become common at those points; requesting anonymity said an elderly local resident of Dak Bungalow intersection.
Member Secretary of Jana Udyog, Khulna Mahendranath Sen alleged that the makeshift shops at different points were causing traffic congestion ensuring smooth flow of traffic. Although traffic police are deployed at different busy points but they most often fail to control the unruly rickshaw-pullers. Hardly anybody can reach the destination in schedule time on account of serious traffic congestions at the busy points in the city.
Afroza Parveen, an employee of a private bank, while returning home after office told The Independent, “Before every Ramzan the law enforcers say they will take special steps to overcome public harassment on roads, but they failed to stop encroachment of Khulna’s footpaths by makeshift shops and hawkers.”
Convener of Khulna Nagarik Samaj, also freedom fighter Advocate AFM Mohsin alleged, “Khulna City Corporation (KCC), with the help of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-6) and Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), conducted several drives before to evict thousands of makeshift shops from footpaths in the city. But the situation became the same after 10 to 12 days of the drives.”

 

Makeshift iftar shops occupy Khulna footpaths

Makeshift shops selling iftar items on Khulna city footpaths and streets, particularly several important points and roads, are hindering public and easy traffic movement, ignoring decision of the authorities concerned.Before Ramzan, Khulna City Corporation (KCC), district administration, law enforcement agencies and business community leaders jointly in a meeting announced that they would not allow any makeshift shop on city footpaths and streets during the month. They said, Iftar selling makeshift shop owners obstruct vehicular movement during Ramzan every year. These types of shops or business will be not allowed this year. However, the makeshift shop owners did not pay any heed to the decision, as numerous shops have been doing businesses on the footpaths and streets of Picture Palace Crossing, Dak Bungalow intersection, Shibbari intersection, KD Ghosh Road, Clay Road, Old Jessore Road, Cemetry Road, West Mekot Road, Phul Marker Crossing, Moylapota Moar, Gallamari intersection, BL College instersection, Phulbarigate KUET Road, Daulatpur Bazaar intersection, Phultala Bazaar and Sonadanga central bus stand intersection. Not only iftar sellers but also other hawkers have started their business from the beginning of the of Ramzan by illegally encroaching the roads and footpaths, adding immense sufferings to the pedestrians. Altaf, Kabir and Sattar- all roadside food vendors- have been making Iftar items on a gas stoves set up close to a drain at Sir Iqbal Road. Altaf said he does it for money and though it requires a small amount of start-up capital, around Tk 400 to Tk 600 can be earned daily. President Conscious Citizen Committee (CCC), Khulna district Begum Ferdousi Ali alleged, Negligence of the authorities and influence of the street vendors and local influential had turned many points of the busy city roads into bazaar. Traders and hawkers have built up permanent structures selling fruits, vegetables, fish, chickens, cloths, shoes and various food items, she added. Even roadside restaurants and grocery shops occupy a large portion of the footpath, she further said. Clashes over establishing dominance and toll collection by political activists had become common at those points; requesting anonymity said an elderly local resident of Dak Bungalow intersection. Member Secretary of Jana Udyog, Khulna Mahendranath Sen alleged that the makeshift shops at different points were causing traffic congestion ensuring smooth flow of traffic. Although traffic police are deployed at different busy points but they most often fail to control the unruly rickshaw-pullers. Hardly anybody can reach the destination in schedule time on account of serious traffic congestions at the busy points in the city. Afroza Parveen, an employee of a private bank, while returning home after office told The Independent, Before every Ramzan the law enforcers say they will take special steps to overcome public harassment on roads, but they failed to stop encroachment of Khulnas footpaths by makeshift shops and hawkers. Convener of Khulna Nagarik Samaj, also freedom fighter Advocate AFM Mohsin alleged, Khulna City Corporation (KCC), with the help of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-6) and Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), conducted several drives before to evict thousands of makeshift shops from footpaths in the city. But the situation became the same after 10 to 12 days of the drives.