Hundreds of commercial establishments are operating illegally in Dhanmondi residential area but the city development authority has not taken any initiative to remove them despite the court’s order.
The High Court on June 11 last year had declared illegal all commercial operations in Dhanmondi residential area and directed the authorities to remove such institutions. Now, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkhya said they were planning to take action against such illegal use of premises at Dhanmondi after the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Residents in Dhanmondi complain that the area has lost its residential character much earlier and at present it has basically turned into a commercial area as education institutions and medical and pathological centres are highly concentrated in the area.
Sabekunnahar Mouri, a resident of Dhanmondi, said that on a single road of Dhanmondi 11/A there are Dhanmondi Tutorial, UODA- Department of Pharmacy, Sunnydale Middle Section, Nibedita Medical Centre and Research Institute, European Standard School, Saint Juded’s International School, Maple Leaf International School, British Standard School, University of Asia Pacific, Northern University, Ibne Sina Medical Imaging Centre, Iranian International School, Marie Curie School, New Castle Academy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Delta Hospital Limited and Eastern University.
During a visit to the area, it was seen that like Road No. 11, on Dhanmondi Road No. 16 there are IBAIS University, Prime University and Persona while on Dhanmondi 7/A there are Scholars School and College, Happytime International School, Dr. Malika University College, Bangkok Hospital, Penfield School and Omeca Tutorial.
Coda, Silver Dale School, Eduaid, Green Gemsit School, Aphelion, CP Fried Chicken, Academia (Elementary section), Stamford College, and Sayedana Community Centre are situated on Dhanmondi Road 9/A and on Dhanmondi Road 6 there are University of Women Federation College, Dhanmondi General and Kidney Hospital, Excel Academy, World University, Bhuiyan Academy and Dhaka Mahila Degree College.
Dhanmondi Road No. 4, Road No. 8 and other areas also house many such institutions, said Monsur Ahmed, a senior citizen of Dhanmondi area.
He said that for educational institutions and health care establishments, traffic system in Dhanmondi area has become irritating and it lost all the flavours of a residential area.
Sound pollution is rampant due to illegal commercial use of the area, he complained.
The High Court delivered a verdict on a writ petition asking the concerned government authorities to set a timeline and issue notice to the owners of those institutions asking them to shift their operations from the area.
Petitioners’ counsel Manzill Murshid had told new Age on February 2 last year that the HC issued the rule following the writ petition jointly filed by of Dhanmondi Residential Welfare Association president MA Masud and general secretary MA Matin Chowdhury seeking necessary directives for protecting the residential character of the area.
However, the decision does not include activities of authorised commercial establishments on Dhanmondi Road-2, Dhanmondi Road-27, Mirpur Road and Satmasjid Road.
The HC court also ordered the authorities of Maple Leaf International School to shift its all the branches from Dhanmondi residential area within the next three years.
Manzil Murshed told New Age the High Court issued the verdict in June 2012 in presence of RAJUK officials, but it was very unfortunate that they did not take any initiative to comply with the order.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkhya authorised officer-1 for Dhanmondi area told New Age in April they had sent a show cause letter to 341 plot owners for illegal use of residential plots.
After Eid-ul-Fitr, RAJUK would go for a drive against illegal commercial use of residential areas, he said.
-With New Age input
