Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Tuesday said extensive drives will begin against the illegal chemical warehouses in old Dhaka after the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

He said this while addressing a view exchange meeting over traffic congestion in old Dhaka, orgainsed by Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at its auditorium.

Taposh said fire incidents take place at times in old Dhaka. 

The Industries Ministry has already developed an industrial area at Shyampur for chemical warehouse and factory, he said.

"But, only one person has shifted his warehouse there. We have provided him with a trade license. I urge the businessmen who are doing chemical business in old Dhaka to shift their business there (Shyampur). Otherwise, we will conduct extensive drives after Eid," he said.

Taposh said there are 1924 listed chemical warehouses and business institutes in old Dhaka and providing and renewing trade license stopped after 2017. But, they are doing business there by taking trade license from other places, he said.

The DSCC mayor said every chemical warehouse and business institute will be closed through drives after Eid.

DTC executive director Nilima Akthar, Dhaka Metropolitan Police additional police commissioner (traffic) Md Munibur Rahman, transport expert Dr SM Saleh Uddin, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited director Md Abdul Baki Mia, among others, addressed the meeting while DCCI president Ashraf Ahmed conducted it.