Staff Reporter :
Eviction drive of unauthorised commercial establishments in city’s Gulshan area should not be done at the moment as it would hamper bank investment, employment, government revenue as well as tourism, say businesses and urban experts.
Residential hotels and motels of the area have already ensured security at their infrastructures after the Gulshan café attack. So, there is no reason to conduct eviction drive for security reasons.
Meanwhile, the government has declared 2016 as Tourism Year. Considering the overall scenario, the government should implement its eviction decision step by step, they said.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Abdul Matlub Ahmad expressed his concern over the eviction drive at a roundtable discussion at the federation Bhaban in the city on Sunday.
Hotel, Guesthouse and Restaurant Owners’ Association of Bangladesh and Tour Operators’ Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) jointly organised the roundtable.
The apex body president hoped that the issue created because of the commercial establishments in residential areas would be resolved.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon suggested the business leaders to discuss the issue with the government.
“I believe the issue will be resolved if you bring up the issue for discussion with the authorities concerned. There will surely be a solution if you speak to the authorities by forming a committee,” he added.
Menon also said he will hold a meeting with the tourism stakeholders to find ways to overcome the negative impacts of the recent terror attacks on the sector.
The tourism-related business leaders told the programme that the foreigners would face a crisis of places to stay if the hotels and motels are evicted, which in turn will hit the national economy.
They demanded a stoppage of the eviction drive in residential areas like Gulshan and Banani.
TOAB Director Taufiq Rahman, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hossain Khaled and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Syed Nasim Manzur, among others, attended the discussion.
Bangladesh Tourism Board CEO Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir, Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar spoke at the programme.
Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank said, the investment at hotel & restaurants in Ghulsan area about Tk 4,000 to 5,000 crore. Besides 15 lakh employees are engaged directly and indirectly in this business. Therefore, they have the right to survive.
Echoing the same, Mubasshar Hussain, architect and urban planner said that a committee should be formed to develop Dhaka as a Model Town. According to the committee’s suggestion RAJUK will strengthen its eviction drive against illegal establishments, he said.
Eviction drive of unauthorised commercial establishments in city’s Gulshan area should not be done at the moment as it would hamper bank investment, employment, government revenue as well as tourism, say businesses and urban experts.
Residential hotels and motels of the area have already ensured security at their infrastructures after the Gulshan café attack. So, there is no reason to conduct eviction drive for security reasons.
Meanwhile, the government has declared 2016 as Tourism Year. Considering the overall scenario, the government should implement its eviction decision step by step, they said.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Abdul Matlub Ahmad expressed his concern over the eviction drive at a roundtable discussion at the federation Bhaban in the city on Sunday.
Hotel, Guesthouse and Restaurant Owners’ Association of Bangladesh and Tour Operators’ Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) jointly organised the roundtable.
The apex body president hoped that the issue created because of the commercial establishments in residential areas would be resolved.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon suggested the business leaders to discuss the issue with the government.
“I believe the issue will be resolved if you bring up the issue for discussion with the authorities concerned. There will surely be a solution if you speak to the authorities by forming a committee,” he added.
Menon also said he will hold a meeting with the tourism stakeholders to find ways to overcome the negative impacts of the recent terror attacks on the sector.
The tourism-related business leaders told the programme that the foreigners would face a crisis of places to stay if the hotels and motels are evicted, which in turn will hit the national economy.
They demanded a stoppage of the eviction drive in residential areas like Gulshan and Banani.
TOAB Director Taufiq Rahman, the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hossain Khaled and the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Syed Nasim Manzur, among others, attended the discussion.
Bangladesh Tourism Board CEO Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir, Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar spoke at the programme.
Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director of Dhaka Bank said, the investment at hotel & restaurants in Ghulsan area about Tk 4,000 to 5,000 crore. Besides 15 lakh employees are engaged directly and indirectly in this business. Therefore, they have the right to survive.
Echoing the same, Mubasshar Hussain, architect and urban planner said that a committee should be formed to develop Dhaka as a Model Town. According to the committee’s suggestion RAJUK will strengthen its eviction drive against illegal establishments, he said.
