A legal notice has been served to the deputy commissioner of Shariatpur for shifting or closing the month-long ongoing trade fair organised in the district town, citing public inconvenience and safety concerns.
Advocate Md Mustafizur Rahman, a lawyer of the Judge court served the legal notice through postal address which was sent to the deputy commissioner, superintendent of Shariatpur police and Sadar municipality authority of Shariatpur on September 8.
According to the notice, the district administration granted permission to organise a month-long trade fair on the premises of the Shilpakala Academy field in the district town, adjacent to the 250-bed Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, Shariatpur Government Girls’ High School and a children’s park.
The field is situated along a major road that frequently experiences severe traffic congestion, said the petition.
Since the opening of the Padma Bridge, vehicular pressure has increased significantly on routes connecting Dhaka, Madaripur and Barishal, worsening the traffic situation.
According to the notice, Advocate Mustafizur said that the fair is causing serious traffic gridlock on the main road, delaying ambulances and patient transport vehicles.
Students and pedestrians are also facing extreme difficulties.
He further noted that public safety is being compromised and alleged that immoral activities have been on the rise in the fair area.
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Earlier, various social and political groups had staged demonstrations and submitted memorandums expressing concern over potential public suffering.
Despite these warnings, permission was granted, violating citizens' constitutional rights to safety and mobility.
According to the local administration, the fair was officially approved through a letter signed on August 12 by Assistant Commissioner (General) Sudipta Ghosh.
The permit was granted to Dhaka-based New Style Marketing to organise the event from August 21 to September 19.
Contacted, Deputy Commissioner Tahsina Begum said she had not yet received any legal notice.
“I haven't received a legal notice. Earlier, I wasn’t aware that the fair would cause such severe traffic issues. Had I known, permission wouldn’t have been granted. No such fairs will be allowed in that location in the future,” she said.
Advocate Mustafizur Rahman confirmed that a copy of the public interest legal notice has been retained for possible future legal action.