Local ruling party leaders of city’s Mirpur on Sunday demanded removal of Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) of Mirpur Zone, Officer in Charge of Kafrul and also Officer in Charge of Bhasantek in protest against removal of party’s arches set up in different roads of the area marking Awami League’s 65th founding anniversary. They put up blockade on Mirpur-Gabtali-Gulistan road of the capital from 3:00pm to 4:00pm to realize the demand.
Commuters had to face untold miseries following the blockade programme as it created serious traffic jams. Thousands of commuters including patients and children had to face serious inconveniences following the agitation of the ruling party men occupying some of the city roads in Mirpur area. Kamal Majumder said the blockade programme would be resumed if the concerned police officers were not withdrawn.
The party leaders and activists put up the blockade on the road led by Kamal Ahmed Majumder, MP of Dhaka-15, witnesses said. Majumder also brought allegation of extortion against the police officers. The law enforcers, he alleged led by the OC of Kafrul and OC of Bhashantek conducted separate drives and knocked down 12 arches from city’s Shewrapara, Kazipara, Mirpur-10, Kachukhet and Ibrahimpur on Saturday and Sunday. Imtiaz Ahmed, DC (DMP) of Mirpur Zone refuting the allegations labeled against them said that they have removed four arches on the basis of a letter of DMP.The arches, he said, have been removed taking into consideration of public interest as those were creating impediments on smooth movement of traffic.
Kamal Majumder, he said, did not seek permission from other authorities like Rajuk and Environment Department prior to erection of arches. He sought clearance of only from DMP, he said. HE further said that police removed the arches as the time limit for the arches expired on June 25.
