Lighting materials removed from Ctg malls

The mobile court launched the anti-lighting drive against the establishments as they indulged in "excessive illumination" using power from illegal supply lines, alleged PDB sources.

During the four-hour-long drive led by Magistrate Mohiuddin Al Faruk, lighting materials were removed from posh shopping mall of VIP Tower, newly opened Keary Elysium, Shah Amanat Market, Reajuddin Bazar and Darul Fazal Market.

The mobile court also removed lighting materials from renowned mosque Laldighi Jam-E-Masjid and Hotel Zaman on charge of excessive illumination.

Besides, a good number of shops including two beauty parlours on Momin Road and Jubilee Road came under anti-illumination drive that started at around 12:00 noon.

The authorities of Chittagong New Market namely Bipani Bitan and Amin Centre, however, removed their lighting materials by themselves.

Some traders of VIP Tower claimed that their own generators were used to illuminate the building to attract the customers.

Office Secretary of VIP Tower Traders' Association Saifuddin said they refrained from using the PDB line for the illumination after the government order.

But the PDB magistrate refuted the claim.

"I myself went to a good number of posh markets and detected illegal use of power for illumination," said Mohiuddin while talking to this correspondent.

"Besides, I went to the markets last week to persuade the businessmen concerned not to indulge in this bad practice," he added.