THE forced confinement of Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq on Monday for several hours by truck workers at city’s Tejgaon Industrial Area was a big shock to the city dwellers who saw the bizarre incident live on TV footage in the afternoon. He came under attack when he went there with a City Corporation team to supervise the eviction of an illegally set up truck terminal and was forced to abandon the eviction unfinished. The attackers sent him the open message that they are more powerful and having support from powerful quarters of the ruling party although the illegal terminal is blocking roads and creating many civic disorders including mugging and drug trafficking at an important city intersection.
Media reports said at least 20 persons were injured, some of them seriously when truck workers supported by unidentified miscreants destroyed vehicles and staged physical assaults on the City Corporation team as it started eviction of the terminal. The eviction was pre-announced as per discussion with truck owners and workers leaders.
Many believe that the presence of the Shipping Minister and Home Minister during the eviction as previously fixed could have avoided the rowdy attack on the Mayor and his team. Annisul was unable to say the reasons why the two Ministers were absent because the presence of the Home Minister who also represents the constituency and the Shipping Minister who is the leader of the transport workers was enough to prevent the unruly elements to attack the Mayor and his team. Needless to say, the Railway Minister was also accompanying the Mayor to clear the Railway land and came under attack but he was able to leave the spot under police escort.
Media reports fielded many stories Monday exposing the under-world gangs which are exploiting the illegal terminal and such other public land renting as shops and slums to earn huge money on regular basis. Reports also talked about powerful government and ruling party leaders including another Minister who is also a powerful leader of the city Awami League for giving shelter to those crime gangs and obviously the Mayor’s attempt to evict the illegal terminal was not positively accepted by them.
Mayor Annisul Haq has also made similar hints and his confrontation with the truck workers and non-cooperation of the ministers and ruling party leaders has thus exposed the vested quarters within the government which are working against public interest and helping to spread crimes in the city. Many believe that they are patronizing the unruly forces including the muggers and drug traffickers to run illegal business and use part of the money to use them against the opposition politics in the streets.
We welcome the Mayor’s attempt to evict the illegal terminal and to build one legally for the truckers. His initiative must succeed to make the city clean.
