Mayor Atiq fears any accident in the caravan market

Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Atiqul Islam has expressed fear that the ‘risky caravan market market may collapse at any time’. He said, ‘The collapse of the market can cause a terrible accident. Who will take responsibility for the accident? Security of buyers and sellers’ lives must be ensured in Smart Bangladesh.

He said this in the President’s speech at the discussion meeting with the leaders of Caravan Bazar Business Owners Association aimed at shifting the Caravan Bazar to the TCB Building in the capital’s Caravan Bazar on Thursday afternoon.

Mayor Atiq said, ‘No developed country in the world has such a wholesale market for perishable products in the middle of its capital. Smart Bangladesh cannot have a wholesale raw market in the heart of Dhaka city. There will be no raw market in Karwan Bazar. I have visited the wholesale markets of developed countries. The market will be designed ensuring all facilities including adequate free space.’

After discussing with everyone, the mayor said that the caravan market will be transferred, “I am making a committee with eleven members. This committee will consist of three local councillors, the leaders of Karwan Bazar supermarket and Kacha Bazar market business owner association and DNCC officials. Within fifteen days, Karwan will submit a report on the overall situation of market relocation.’

DNCC Mayor said, ‘I have assigned the councilors of the area to negotiate with the traders after receiving the letter of risky market transfer. I have also discussed with the Minister of Agriculture that BADC needs space to construct the road to and from Gabtali Kachabazar. Agriculture Minister has agreed to give BADC space for roads. In case of transfer of market, equal amount of space will be allocated in the new market. No need to pay any new money for this. Such a decision has been informed to us from the Ministry of Local Government. I promise that a safe modern market will be built for buyers and sellers with many advantages over the caravan market.’

Mayor Atiqul Islam said, ‘A committee led by Dhaka divisional commissioner has declared eight markets of DNCC as dangerous. I have been sent a letter. They are the ones who decided to move the risk market at a faster pace. According to the decision of the government, markets were constructed in Jatrabari, Gabtali and Mohakhali to move caravan market by allocating Tk 260 crore. This is in light of the project passed by Ekneke. At that time it was passed and implemented with the approval of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. Therefore, it is not a fabrication.’

The Mayor said, ‘The Prime Minister said in the Parliament about six months ago that the Padma bridge has been completed, so the products coming from the southern districts will be in the southern part of Dhaka city. And the goods coming through the Bangabandhu Bridge will be at the northern end of Dhaka. Hon’ble Prime Minister’s speech is a lesson for us. We do not make decisions in that light, we implement them. It is our responsibility to implement the Prime Minister’s orders.

The mayor said, ‘In accordance with the Prime Minister’s decision, the local government minister told me that measures should be taken to relocate the risky market. Buildings are collapsing in various markets. The Dhaka Divisional Commissioner has again written to evacuate eight dangerous markets immediately. So we put up signs in the markets saying risky. But sadly that signboard has also been removed.’

Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan MP and Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry were guests in the exchange meeting. Tajul Islam MP.

The Home Minister said, ‘Carwan Bazar is a traditional wholesale market. Engineers have declared some buildings in this market as hazardous. At various times, the city corporation has asked traders to move out of risky buildings. Signboards have also been put up in dangerous buildings. Metrorail passing by Karwan Bazar, Elevated Expressway. Someday trucks may not ply on the roads of Caravan Bazar. Traders need to consider this in advance.’

The Home Minister also said, ‘We will not transfer anyone by force, by stopping business, by stopping their livelihood. Alternative arrangements will be made for you to relocate. A more modern and beautiful market will be constructed and relocated. The decision will be taken after discussing with the business leaders. The alternative arrangement of the dangerous building should be done soon. None of us want to sacrifice ourselves All should work together to make alternative arrangements. We hope that a decision will be taken regarding the caravan market ensuring a win-win position.

The Minister of Local Government said, ‘Honorable Prime Minister is running the country with the goal that every person can live with self-respect. From caravan market traders to pavement traders, no one is out of the plan. Wholesale market migration of caravan markets is a complex issue. This problem should be solved with the cooperation of all.’

The local government minister also said, ‘Many people’s livelihoods are involved in market relocation. Work should be done taking into account that no one is harmed. The development of all countries of the world has been destruction construction. No one can be rigid. One has to think as a party rather than as an opponent.’

The Chief Executive Officer of DNCC was also present in the exchange meeting conducted by Motakabbir Ahmed, Regional Executive Officer of DNCC Region-05. Salim Reza, Chief Engineer Brigadier General Muh. Amirul Islam, 24 Ward Councilor Md. Safiullah, Ward No. 25 Councilor Abdullah Al Manzoor, Ward No. 26 Councilor Shamim Hasan, Mitu Akhter, Women Councilor of Reserved Seats and others.

(Dhakatimes/08 June/KR/KM)