Dhaka North sells construction materials left on pavement

Dhaka North authorities seized and sold the construction materials of an under-construction building, which is being constructed under a project of the public works department, in the capital's Mirpur yesterday as the materials were illegally kept on roads and pavements obstructing public movement.

On Saturday, Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam visited the Paikpara area in Mirpur for an anti-dengue awareness campaign and found a large number of rods, brick, sand and other construction materials kept on the main roads and pavements. As no authority over the building was available, the mayor ordered immediate legal action for creating a public nuisance.

A team from Dhaka North City Corporation, led by its executive magistrate Persia Sultana Priyanka, seized all the construction materials and sold those in an open auction for Tk18.45 lakh.

The mayor said there were about 300 tonnes of rods and goods worth Tk4-5 crore.

"During the search for Aedes larvae in under-construction buildings, we found a large number of rods, bricks, sand and other materials left on the road and the pavement. Drains are clogged due to sand. There is water on the road too," said the mayor.

He said that more precautions should be taken as it is a government building construction project. Special care should be taken so that the people do not suffer, Aedes larvae do not grow due to accumulation of water.

The mayor warned that no one from the public, semi-public and private organisations that cause public suffering will be exempted. Regional executive officers in all ten areas of Dhaka North will take strict action if there is an obstruction on the road. Nothing can be allowed to cause suffering to the people.

"We are going to take action against the contractor for negligence. It is very sad to leave construction materials like this. Government institutions should be more responsible," the mayor added.

National Development Engineers Ltd (NDE) is constructing the building.