The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has ordered the immediate removal of all illegally erected banners, festoons, posters, signboards, LED billboards, and advertising plaques from building walls and rooftops – with a strict seven-day deadline.
The directive, issued in a public notice on Tuesday, follows growing public concern over the visual clutter plaguing the capital. This comes just two days after Jago News published a special report titled “Dhaka is now a city of posters and banners,” which highlighted the rampant, unregulated proliferation of advertising structures obstructing streetscapes and historic architecture.
According to the DNCC notice, any advertising material installed without prior written permission from authorised municipal authorities is deemed illegal. This includes structures affixed to residential and commercial buildings, footpath boundaries, and public infrastructure.
“Individuals or organisations responsible for such illegal installations are hereby directed to remove all such banners, festoons, posters, signboards, LED displays, and similar materials at their own cost and risk within seven days,” the notice stated.
Failure to comply will result in enforcement action, including the imposition of fines, confiscation of materials, and, in severe cases, legal proceedings or eviction.
The move is part of a broader initiative by DNCC to restore urban aesthetics, ensure public safety, and enforce municipal bylaws governing outdoor advertising. Officials confirmed that inspection teams will begin patrols citywide from November 25, targeting high-density areas such as Gulshan, Banani, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, and Mohammadpur.
Residents and business owners are urged to review their signage and remove unauthorised displays before the deadline to avoid penalties.
“A clean city begins with compliance,” said a DNCC spokesperson. “We are not targeting businesses — we are enforcing the law.”
The notice also invited public reporting of illegal installations via DNCC’s official helpline and mobile app.