THE government allowed business establishments and educational institutions in the past years to flourish in the city’s upscale areas like Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara but it wants to demolish them now to show the chaos and whimsical decision-making process. People made investments and set up those establishments, now who would repay their investment and make good of their losses. This is a big question that haunts the mind of thousands facing uncertainties about their future.
The New Nation on Wednesday reported that over 3500 business centers, including educational institutions, hospitals and shopping malls in the four downtowns are under threat though these establishments were legally set up. After securing clearances from RAJUK and City Corporations and other government entities, businessmen set up them to meet the growing demands of services in those areas. Though the government decided to evict these commercial establishments, how a large number of residents would meet their service demand and where will they go is also the big question.
It is said eviction of such establishments is important for security in diplomatic zones and to foreigners, but how the eviction will help in deterring terrorism is not clear to many. In this context, the government, the law enforcers, and security experts should chalk out realistic plans to eliminate militants’ threat without evicting businesses and other establishments. Our past experiences show that even if some establishments would be evicted, they would start business again. This is more so because of demand of local residents but also because of tacit official support against financial benefit to dishonest functionaries of Rajuk or City Corporations. The business people will suffer losses — that is the point.
We see, the government step is being taken shifting responsibility on the shoulder of the apex court at a time, when large number of youths is coming out from universities and they need jobs. Such establishments are creating thousands of jobs when the government is persistently failing to create more jobs. The job market is only shrinking. The evictions will make thousands of employees unemployed to add to more unemployment. This is one of the causes of widespread frustration to add to rising militancy.
We don’t find any reason why a sudden decision should demolish all such businesses which have paid property tax, electricity and gas bills and other levies. We understand that the government is under heavy pressure to improve safety standard in the city. But it does not mean that one should cut the head for headache. In our view militancy is mainly a political issue and its solution must come politically. Police will have to give protection no matter these establishments were demolished or not. We believe they can do it by increasing their capacity at all levels.
