Despite repeated attempts to contact lawmaker Kamal for comments, the Dhaka Tribune found his phone switched off.
Ruling party lawmaker Kamal Ahmed Majumder yesterday led demonstrations in the capital’s Mirpur, demanding the withdrawal of three police officials who ordered the removal of makeshift archways on city roads built to mark Awami League’s founding anniversary.
Supporters of Kamal, the MP from Dhaka 15 constituency, Made a blockaded on Mirpur roads for around one and a half hour in the afternoon. He called for the removal of deputy commissioner of police in Mirpur Division, Imtiyaz Ahmed, and the officers-in-charge of Kafrul and Bhashantek police stations.
During the demonstrations, local Awami League activists claimed that the police had removed over a dozen archways from roads at Shewrapara, Kazipara, Mirpur Section 10, Kochukhet and Ibrahimpur areas.
Addressing a rally at Mirpur Section 10, Kamal warned of organising further road blockades from next Saturday if the police officials were not withdrawn by Thursday.
He also alleged that the three police officials were involved in assisting illegal trades, extortions and movement of illegal vehicles.
Meanwhile, the police officials concerned said they had removed the makeshift archways as the structures were unsafe for city roads, obstructed traffic movement and posed a risk to the public.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, DC Imtiyaz Ahmed said the police decided to remove the archways considering public interest and safety.
“Those archways had been constructed creating obstruction to traffic movement, posing a hazard for city roads and also risking public lives,” the DC said.
“I had given no objection for the construction of seven arches on condition that they obtained approval from the proper authorities like the traffic department and the Dhaka City Corporation.
“But they constructed many more than the approved number of arches. Besides, those gates were supposed to be removed by June 25; but they did not do that even after repeated requests and warnings,” Imtiyaz said.
Despite repeated attempts to contact lawmaker Kamal for comments, the Dhaka Tribune found his phone switched off.
The agitation programme by the ruling party MP came only days after Narayanganj lawmaker Shamim Osman allegedly threatened an assistant superintendent of police for barring a local union parishad chairman from stuffing ballots during the by-poll on June 26.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
