Beauty of port city restored

You will be delighted if you visit the port city.

The entire city now wears a fresh look as the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) has removed almost all the billboards along the roads.

Even at the beginning of last month, hundreds of billboards were seen erected on the roofs of buildings, and by the roadside here and there, overshadowing the beauty of the city.

However, the scenario started to change after January 14 when a special drive was launched to remove them.

CCC Chief Executive Officer Kazi Mohammad Shafiul Alam said not a single billboard in the port city was authorised as many did not have their approval renewed after the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Billboards obstructed view in the area in 2014. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

The others were illegal and built without ensuring proper safety measures, said sources.

The ongoing drive aimed at restoring the beauty of the port city, said Kazi, adding that no new billboards would be allowed and anyone who would come forward to work for the city's beautification would be welcomed.

According to corporation sources, there were about 10,000 billboards across the city.

CCC Executive Magistrate Najia Shirin, also the coordinator of the drive, said they had already removed over 9,000 billboards, including many giant ones.

Hopefully, the rest of the work would be completed within a week, she added.

This correspondent visited many areas in the city, including Number-2 Gate, GEC intersection, Lalkhan Bazar, Tigerpass intersection, Dewanhat intersection, Badamtoli intersection, Oxygen, Jamalkhan, Chawkbazar, Kazir Dewry, New Market, and Probartak intersection recently but did not see a single billboard anywhere.

The photo were taken in the city's Tiger Pass area yesterday. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

Chumki Akter, a resident of Jhautola area, said the entire Tiger Pass Intersection area had almost been covered by billboards just a month ago. But, there is no billboard there now, which is very refreshing, she said.

Ariful Islam, a resident at Nunmber-2 Gate area, thanked the CCC for making his locality free of billboards.

Billboards obstructed view in the area in 2014. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

“It [the drive] is undoubtedly a praiseworthy job by the CCC,” said Prof Engr M Ali Ashraf, a town planner and also chairman of Bangladesh Institute of Planners, Chittagong chapter.

Different organisations, including Chittagong Metropolitan Police and Power Development Board, have been assisting the city corporation in the drive, said sources.