District administration drive to evict illegal footpath structures in Moulvibazar town

The district administration has carried out a drive to evict illegal structures from footpaths in Moulvibazar town. Easing traffic congestion and preventing indiscriminate vehicle parking were the main objectives of this drive.

The drive was conducted on Sunday evening under the leadership of Suja Ahmed, executive magistrate of the district commissioner's office. The drive ran on both sides of the road from the municipality area to the Manu Bridge at Chandnighat.

During the drive, the mobile court fined one establishment two thousand taka on allegations of conducting business by occupying the footpath. Although footpaths are designated for pedestrians to walk on, because of occupation they had become narrow in many places.

Executive Magistrate Suja Ahmed said after the drive that traders have been warned not to occupy road space. He said such activities are being conducted to restore order on the town's roads.

Traffic congestion and indiscriminate parking on the town's main roads are long-standing problems. As footpaths are occupied, pedestrians have to step down onto the road to walk, which slows traffic further and increases the risk of accidents.

In this district administration drive, the illegal structures that had sprung up beside the road were removed. Administrative activity was noticeable in the evening drive on this long stretch from the municipality area to the Manu Bridge.

During the drive, the traders concerned were clearly told that no structure may be kept by occupying road and footpath space. The mobile court hinted that stricter measures will be taken in future if the warning is disregarded.

Local pedestrians and drivers had long demanded that footpaths be freed of occupation to reduce traffic congestion. Those concerned believe the administration's drive is a step in continuation of that demand.

However, locals are of the view that whether the footpaths become occupied again after eviction will depend on surveillance. Without regular monitoring, the fear of illegal structures returning remains.

The district administration has said such drives will continue to ease traffic congestion and prevent illegal parking. The warning given to traders not to occupy road space will now form the basis of the next steps.