Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq today gave shop owners a 7-day ultimatum to free illegal occupation of footpaths and roads.

"Legal action will be taken if it is not done by seven days," Annisul warned while exchanging views with businessmen at Gulshan Club.

After March 10, patrol teams of the DNCC will conduct drive at different parts of the city and take legal action against the illegal occupants, the mayor said.

Annisul said there are around 1.50 lakh shops in the DNCC area. Many shop owners keep their goods and merchandise on footpath and road in front of their shops.

"No one has the right to occupy a single inch of the footpath," he added. "You (businessmen) will count losses. So free the footpaths from illegal grabbing."

The mayor was addressing a programme focused on the businessmen's role in alleviating the sufferings of citizens organised by the Dhaka North City Corporation.

Annisul also called upon the shop owners to contain the solid wastes they generate at a designated place and hand it over to waste collectors instead of random disposal.