Trade license to be revoked if businesses occupy footpaths: DNCC administrator

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) administrator Mohammad Azaz said on Saturday that trade licenses will be revoked if any businessman operates their business occupying footpaths.

“After Eid, we will conduct a drive. Trade licenses of businesses who encroach on footpaths will be canceled, and their shops will be sealed,” he said while talking to reporters after visiting the ongoing development work of Mirpur 60-feet road on Saturday.

The administrator said that many garage owners are using footpaths and roads to wash motorcycles and cars while  many shopkeepers are doing business using footpaths.

He also said that they are facing problems with the development work.

“At 8 points on the 60-feet road, house owners are preventing us from building sidewalks. They are not allowing our workers to construct and are threatening the court’s verdict. They’re also not cooperating and have set up illegal shops and dumped garbage.”

The DNCC administrator said, “We aim to facilitate public movement, but if anyone illegally obstructs government work, strict action will be taken.”

He also mentioned that they are examining the properties of those hindering the work to see if they are illegally using residential buildings for commercial purposes.

“We will investigate whether they have been paying commercial tax for the last twenty years, review their plans, and check for permissions. Illegal structures outside the approved plans will be demolished, and no concessions will be given,” he said.

The DNCC administrator assured that the work on the 60-feet road will be completed before Eid.