The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayor Annisul Huq directed the owners of illegal billboards to remove unapproved hoardings to avoid legal action. His comment came yesterday a day after High Court’s directives to both city corporations to give explanation of whether the authorities concerned have taken steps for removal of all unauthorized billboards, arches, banners, posters and graffiti from their areas. “Those who have put up such illegal billboards should remove them voluntarily or we shall send our magistrate to dismantle them,” said the mayor.
Both city corporations authorities have been asked to submit the report before by August 22 explaining whether they have employed executive magistrate to take necessary action against those who did not abide by the law that restricted unauthorised illegal billboards, arches and other propaganda materials.
In response to HC directives two city corporations’ authorities said they would submit report on that in the given time. Talking to The Independent DSCC public relation officer Uttam Kumar Roy confirmed that they would submit report on removing billboards, banners by August 22.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq said, “90-90 percent illegal propaganda materials have been cleaned. In the last one year we removed 20,000 billboards and 70,000 banners, posters and festoons from the north city. Councilors are also reminded so that no one can put up unauthorized illegal billboards.”
He was talking to journalists at a press conference held at DNCC building at Gulshan 2. “Some billboards are yet to be removed and that’s why we have to hold press conference,” said the mayor. “HC directives would strengthen our effort to make Dhaka a clean, green, smart, safe and beautiful city. In this case there is no alternative to citizens’ awareness,” he said.
The mayor urged the city dwellers to remove all illegal billboards, not to put up banners or festoons in roads or wall, to throw wastes in dustbins etc.
“We will conduct mobile court and people who would not remove unauthorized propaganda materials would be fined,” he added.
The HC bench comprising Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order on August 14 after hearing a petition of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
BELA filed the petition with the HC seeking its directives on the authorities to explain whether the city corporations have taken steps for removal of the unauthorised materials.
DCCs lawyer Md Shahajahan told reporters that the HC had on March 18, 2012 directed the authorities concerned of the two city corporations to immediately remove all unauthorised hoardings, posters, banners, arch-gateways, wall-writings and other publicity materials placed in the city.