The sidewalk in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) has been transformed following an eviction and beautification drive under a special initiative by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).
The area, once marked by illegal occupation, waste and foul odour, now features rows of flower pots, ornamental plants and graffiti across the walls.
DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said Dhaka, as the capital, reflects the country’s image and must be kept clean and liveable when he went to the site to inaugurate the pavement.
Photo: DSCC“We have taken this initiative to create a pleasant environment to ensure mental comfort for patients and their relatives,” he said, adding that sustained efforts from Dhaka University, police, city corporation and journalists would be needed to maintain the environment.
On hawker management, he said unregulated roadside businesses causing public inconvenience would not be allowed, but stressed that authorities do not intend to act inhumanely towards hawkers and rickshaw pullers.
He said temporary businesses on sidewalks would require licences from the city corporation, in line with government directives.
The DSCC is preparing a location-based list of hawkers with police assistance. Once finalised, a fixed number of vendors will be allowed in designated areas at specific times. Plans are also underway to introduce “holiday markets” and “night markets”.
“We aim not to evict, but to rehabilitate,” he said.
