Staff Reporter :
Slum dwellers at Mohakhali in the capital staged demonstrations blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway protesting an eviction drive of a seven-story building used as a slum by them without ensuring their rehabilitation.
At least 2,000 dwellers of the ‘Saat Tola’ slum took to the street and blocked the highway at Amtoli area on Monday noon when the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) authorities started the eviction drive.
At the time, hundreds of slum dwellers participated in the protest with various placards.
Vehicular movement in the areas of Kakoli, Banani, Amtali, Kuril, Bishwa Road and Airport Road of the capital remained suspended for
two hours due to the severe traffic jams following the road blockade.
However, the drive was stopped in the face of the protests.
According to the slum dwellers, most of them are the victims of river erosion. So they demanded rehabilitation first as they have no place to go and live in.
Gulshan Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abdul Ahad said police were deployed to clear the highway for traffic movement.
