AT LEAST twenty educational institutions in the capital’s Dhanmondi Residential Area including English schools and private universities have been asked to remove their campuses in seven days. Owners of these institutions really don’t know how to find new locations while uncertainty over the education of thousands of students are haunting their guardians. The city authorities are out to clear the area of commercial establishments, but we are afraid none of them is thinking about how such actions will cripple institutions and businesses. Schools and universities may hike tuition fees soon to overcome their losses. There may be many more fallouts of such relocation but the government is showing its power without looking back to public reaction.
A national daily reported on Friday that the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has served notices on the educational and commercial establishments including restaurants and hospitals to shift to new locations. They have taken the move following a Cabinet decision in early April and a subsequent Supreme Court ruling on August 01 asking the concerned authorities to stop unauthorized commercial activities in Dhanmondi area. The drive then gets new boost following militant attacks at a Gulshan Café as the law enforcers believe militants may hide their presence under the cover of such institutions and they be removed.
It appears every such move is coming so quickly from the authorities without a look back how these institutions can be removed so quickly which grew over the past four to five decades. Dhanmondi Residential Area did not turn into a commercial area overnight. Successive governments allowed institutions to grow giving all utility connections such as gas and electricity and also accepted their presence by collecting tax and other levies. We wonder how the successive governments, which allowed the institutions to grow can take a decision so whimsically without looking back at their own responsibility. Why the other authorities should not be held accountable. It is easy to punish and harass citizens.
We are not sure if it is wrong to allow schools in residential areas. Children of the residential areas need schools nearby. We are against universities in residential areas. Because, university students are young enough to attend classes anywhere. Then the universities must have healthy campus areas. University atmosphere is not like that of children’s schools.
A national daily reported on Friday that the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has served notices on the educational and commercial establishments including restaurants and hospitals to shift to new locations. They have taken the move following a Cabinet decision in early April and a subsequent Supreme Court ruling on August 01 asking the concerned authorities to stop unauthorized commercial activities in Dhanmondi area. The drive then gets new boost following militant attacks at a Gulshan Café as the law enforcers believe militants may hide their presence under the cover of such institutions and they be removed.
It appears every such move is coming so quickly from the authorities without a look back how these institutions can be removed so quickly which grew over the past four to five decades. Dhanmondi Residential Area did not turn into a commercial area overnight. Successive governments allowed institutions to grow giving all utility connections such as gas and electricity and also accepted their presence by collecting tax and other levies. We wonder how the successive governments, which allowed the institutions to grow can take a decision so whimsically without looking back at their own responsibility. Why the other authorities should not be held accountable. It is easy to punish and harass citizens.
We are not sure if it is wrong to allow schools in residential areas. Children of the residential areas need schools nearby. We are against universities in residential areas. Because, university students are young enough to attend classes anywhere. Then the universities must have healthy campus areas. University atmosphere is not like that of children’s schools.
