Kamrangichar locals on Sunday demanded the cancellation of the Dhaka South City Corporation's Central Business District (CBD) project by acquiring land in the area.
They made the demand at a protest rally at a local hospital ground under the banner of the Kamrangirchar Janmabhumi Roksha Committee.
Hundreds of men and women including students of different institutes joined the rally.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has planned a business hub under CBD project by acquiring 1,200 acres of land at a cost of Tk200 crore. The project may evict nearly two million residents, according to the locals.
Awami League’s Kamrangirchar unit leader Abdur Rahim said that the locals will continue the movement if the authorities do not cancel the project.
“We have a history of four hundred years. If attempts are made to evict us, we will definitely resist. I hope Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will intervene in this regard,” he said.
Councillor of DSCC Ward 56 Mohammad Hossain said people living in Kamrangirchar are now worried about their existence.
The local leader urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh to implement these projects in other places without evicting the people of Kamrangirchar.
Jummon Mia, a resident of the area, said that locals do not want any international conference centre in name of development.
“We all want to protect our habitat together with public representatives,” he said. Kamrangirchar Thana Chhatra League former president Nazmul Hasan said people do not want any such development that evict common people from their homeland.
“Under no circumstances will we allow anyone to occupy our residence,” he said.
Cambridge School Headmaster Syeda Sultana Mahmuda said that around two million people of Kamrangirchar have only one demand – cancell the CBD project.
“There are many educational institutions here. None of these will exist if CBD is implemented. We do not want any development project by being evicted from our native land,” he said.
AL Kamrangirchar Thana unit Vice-President Shah Ali, Organizing Secretary Ferdous Molla, Alinagar Panchayat Committee’s General Secretary Mintu Sheikh and locals SM Mohiuddin and Mohammad Hasan addressed the protest rally while valiant freedom fighter Abdur Rahim chaired the session.
Regarding the issue, Dhaka-2 lawmaker and former Food Minister Qamrul Islam told the media that people’s demand will be considered based on circumstances.
“I don't want to go against the will of people. People's decision is my decision,” he said.
BDST: 1031 HRS, MAR 12, 2024
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