Dhaka:Residents and pedestrians have regained access to the footpath in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, after the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) reclaimed and reopened it for public use. This area had long been encroached upon, limiting pedestrian movement.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the DSCC has not only cleared the footpath but also initiated a beautification program. The improvements include the installation of new dustbins and benches, repairs to the boundary wall, and the creation of a cultural ambience along the renovated stretch.
DSCC Administrator and veteran freedom fighter Md Abdus Salam highlighted these efforts during the inauguration of the programme. The walls along the footpath now display graffiti depicting ten eminent personalities who have contributed significantly to Bangladesh's art and culture, such as Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, Satyajit Ray, Rabindranath Tagore, and National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Abdus Salam emphasized that no hawkers would be allowed to occupy roads or footpaths in the capital. He mentioned that alternative locations have been arranged for hawkers, and legal actions, including confiscation of goods, would be taken against those returning to prohibited areas after eviction.
The corporation's goal is not to deprive hawkers of their livelihoods but to relocate them to designated areas. Hawkers can operate at the 'Holiday Market' near Pir Yemeni Mazar on Fridays and Saturdays, while on other days, they can use the footpath along the road opposite Ideal School. These decisions were made after discussions with hawkers' association leaders.
The reclaimed area is intended to be developed as a clean cultural space, with regular maintenance by DSCC cleaners near the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Abdus Salam urged the Shilpakala Academy authorities and the public to help maintain the area's cleanliness and beauty.
He called for cooperation from journalists, hawkers, and citizens, emphasizing that building a 'Clean and Green' Dhaka is a shared civic responsibility, not solely the government's.