Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan has alleged that political vested interest groups, specifically pointing to Jamaat-e-Islami, are instigating opposition against administrative initiatives aimed at freeing footpaths from illegal hawkers and regulating battery-operated auto-rickshaws on major thoroughfares.
The Administrator made these remarks on Friday morning (October 9, 2026) while inaugurating the restoration of July Uprising memorial graffiti on Metro Rail pillars in the capital’s Mirpur area.
Key policy highlights and administrative declarations from the event include:
Footpath Restoration & Hawker Clearing: Administrator Shafiqul Islam Khan stated that with direct cooperation from Mirpur residents, major footpaths in Mirpur have been cleared of illegal vendors and are undergoing renovation to ensure pedestrian accessibility. He affirmed that footpath reclamation drives will be expanded across the entire DNCC jurisdiction in phases.
Community Resistance Against Re-occupation: The Administrator warned that any future attempts to re-occupy reclaimed footpaths or establish extortion syndicates would be met with direct community-led resistance alongside civic authorities.
Preserving July Uprising Legacy: Highlighting the remake of wall art along the Metro Rail pillars, Khan noted that graffiti depicting the struggles and sacrifices of citizens during the July Uprising is being permanently preserved to inspire future generations and honor contributions to democratic reform.
Traffic Management and Rickshaw Regulations: City Corporation officials emphasized that administrative efforts to clear major arterial roads of unregulated battery-operated auto-rickshaws to restore traffic order are facing political pushback from entrenched interest groups benefiting from informal transport trade.
