Recent eviction drives

It seems that there is a spurt of eviction drives in Dhaka city by Rajdhani Unnayan Katripakkha (Rajuk) officials following the Gulshan killings. However, one is not clear as to the purpose. The people who are being evicted are our citizens and not aliens. One wonders whether they had received enough warning before the drive was launched. Such unplanned actions create more resentment than solve problems. We have seen such stop-gap drives in the past, particularly at the time of the last caretaker government. They proved futile as the business houses rebuilt their establishments later on.  

If the reason, as implied, for evicting business establishments set up 'illegally' from certain parts of the city, particularly the diplomatic zone, is security then the link is unclear. We would like to point out that the Gulshan attackers did not stay in any hotel. They stayed at an apartment. And the den in Kalyanpur used as the extremists' lair was a multi-storeyed building housing many families. Hence, why this sudden rush to evict and demolish establishments where billions have been invested and a sector that employs tens of thousands of people? 

Yes, we agree with Rajuk that these structures must be removed in the interest of zoning the city. If it is to re-zone the city, then it must follow some order whereby authorities give proper notice, followed by warnings and then action; anything short of that will create chaos. Authorities must work with the people who are invested in these business entities to make the transition work.