Destruction of Dhanmondi

Let's take a micro look at Road No 31 (old) and Road No. 32 (old). The buildings/structures facing the Mirpur Road are all illegal. The construction irregularities of the shopping mall involving RAJUK and the builders were raised in The Daily Star, but to no result. The footpath has become the virtual car parking facility of the business centres along this (Mirpur) road stretching along from Road 27 to Road 1. The alignment of this footpath has been manipulated, tampered and tapered to cater to car parking at random. The inside footpaths are also no exception. The cars failing to avail parking in these buildings and footpaths take refuge inside the residential area and create various problems. Many untoward incidents have taken place due to regularly irregular car parking. The gardening areas in front of the houses and the drains have been purposely covered for that. In this connection , may I remind the residents of the order of the High Court issued to the police to clear all the footpaths.

There are seven schools and one college-cum-university operating in this small stretch of Road No 31 (old) and Road No. 32 (old). It is mysterious how they obtained permission from the Ministry of Education and other offices ! Just imagine or practically see what happens when hundreds of cars honking horns and some in full music mood coming to (and going out of) these educational institutions. Recently, these schools have managed to make these roads one-way during morning time to suit their purpose in collusion with police.

Most of the (once) houses have been taken over by the real-estate companies. Most have flouted the RAJUK rules like under capacity car parking, excess flats, flattening the front footpath, introducing sub-basement parking (actually this is a trick to fool customers and increase one more floor), showing one apartment plan while selling and giving another when delivering, lessening the side areas which are to be kept open and vacant, etc., etc.

We used to hear birds chirping all day along. But they are not found any more as the trees on these roads have been cut slowly and methodically. The rest of the trees are counting their days.

Another regular nuisance which starts from early morning till night are the training sessions of the driving schools which take place on these roads. Many a school going children with their guardians, pedestrians , cars, etc. have been knocked down by these trainee drivers. Even after several complaints to the police, they mange to come back every morning.

Our worries and woes keep on increasing with the continuous addition of newer business centres and activities in the Dhanmondi Residential Area. One school, one shopping mall and one bank are enough to destroy civilisation in Dhanmondi!