Editorial
Revocation of stay order on illegal billboards
Removal work must go full steam ahead
WE are happy that the stay order on demolition of illegal and hazardous billboards in the capital has been revoked by the High Court last Thursday putting the safety of the public and their property above all other considerations. And RAJUK and the DCC must act on the HC directive without delay.
The business of putting up billboards in Dhaka city was for long a syndicated affair, particularly during the erstwhile 4-party alliance regime, when the job was monopolized by a small coterie with strong political connections. Along with billboards and hoardings approved by the city corporation, a large number of advertisements were erected illegally disregarding all requirements of safety as evident from instances of collapse of several billboards, some of which resulted in damage to life and property
In most cases the construction did not conform to the minimum engineering requirements that would ensure safety of the structure. And the relevant authorities were either helpless to do anything or had willingly turned the other way, thereby becoming complicit in the illegal business. It was indeed painful to see innocent passersby losing their life from falling billboards.
It is regrettable that the authorities should have to wait for a court order to ensure something that is within their terms of reference anyway. But now that the High Court has removed the impediment to acting against illegal and hazardous advertisement structures, no excuse shall be countenanced and the authorities must move full speed ahead to remove these objects that pose threats to public safety.
All too often we see the DCC and RAJUK proffering excuses of shortage of manpower in exercising oversight of the safety standards during the construction and after. It doesn't need large manpower but appropriate rules to ensure that requirements of safety, aesthetics and traffic flow are followed. Why in the first place were such billboards allowed to be set up? This question must be seriously gone into and procedures clearly laid out for renting out of spaces to accord with certain standards of safety, aesthetics and spacing.
Not only must the work of demolition be commenced and finished with speed, the relevant authorities must also formulate rules that would bring the private building owners under the ambit of the rules also. Authorities concerned must not fail to ensure that public safety is not compromised for commercial considerations.
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