32 more illegal structures on Turag removed

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday, the third day of the on-going eviction drive, dismantled parts of two major and at least 30 makeshift sturctures erected on the river Turag.
With the assistance of Gazipur district administration BIWTA tore down the illegaly Kamarpara Bridge in Masimpur mouja and Hossain Dyeing at Pagar mouja of Tongi.
On-duty senior Executive Magistrate Abul Bashar Md Ameer Uddin said his team demolished parts of Shajid Washing and Dying factory till 3: 00 pm and said emphatically that the drive would continue today.
Ameer said, “We were inspired by The Daily Star campaign against river-gobblers and polluters.”
“The entire eviction drive slowed down, as BIWTA could not use its large tugboat in pulling down heavy constructions,” he added.
Officials said the drive would last longer than the authorities had earlier thought.
BIWTA Director (ports) Mahabubul Alam also praised The Daily Star for its vigorous campaign against encroachment and pollution and said it is The Daily Star that inspired and expedited the eviction move.
Atul Sarkar, assistant commissioner (Land) of Gazipur, said the heavy tugboat of BIWTA did not come in handy, as it could not pass through the narrow passage under the railway bridge over the Turag.
The drive, however, continued under the Tongi Bridge and in Bata Market area to the east of the river until evening where the eviction team pulled apart makeshift structures.
Sarkar said they would seek approval for two or three days time extension to wrap up the drive in Tongi.
Today’s drive will continue along the northern bank of the Turag to complete unfinished demolition and remove remnants of the makeshift ones, said BIWTA high officials.
Alam said, “We will carry on unfinished demolition and remove the demolished structures lying in piles on the northern bank of the Turag tomorrow (today).”
“We have flattened at least 30 new makeshift structures today near Biswa Ijtema Ground to the west of the Tongi Bridge,” said Alam.
BIWTA also fixed around 20 demarcation pillars at Pagar and elsewhere where illegal structures were brought down to the ground.
The eviction team yesterday also demolished encroached parts of the Merchants Limited dyeing factory built with heavy RCC pillars at Pagar and knocked down a number of small structures to the east of the Tongi Bridge.
Earth removal will be done under the ongoing circular waterway project, said Alam.
Hossain Dyeing factory at Pagar grabbed at least ten feet area of the river, he said.
BIWTA lacked magistracy power and it has been a big obstacle to freeing the rivers from grabbers, said its officials.
Deputy director level officers of BIWTA enjoyed magistracy power during the 1960s but they are not empowered now to resist the river grabbing.
BIWTA has to depend on the district administration for magistrates and police force to launch a demolition drive, which is a pretty time consuming.
“It has now become a pressing need either to empower BIWTA officials with magistracy power or depute magistrates at BIWTA for speedy action against encroachment,” Alam continued.
Abu Naser Khan of environmentalist group Paribesh Bachao Andolon said that the survey of the river’s demarcation seemed seriously anomalous and it should be reviewed.
“It is evident that even the river foreshore, as defined by the river port act, is not being protected,” he said.
BIWTA Assistant Engineer Shajidur Rahman said that they had determined the foreshore and port area following a joint survey conducted by BIWTA and the district administration concerned.
Around 100 labourers in several groups were engaged in yesterday’s drive in the port area from Pagar end to the Ijtema ground.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Subrata Pal Chowdhury and Gazipur Sadar UNO AKM Tipu Sultan were present at the eviction site.
BIWTA launched the drive on June 3 following a vigorous media campaign led by The Daily Star against river grabbing and pollution.
A total of 63 structures on the Gazipur end of the Turag and 69 on the Dhaka end have been erected on the river.
The northern bank of the Turag is under the Gazipur district administration while the southern bank is under Dhaka.

Courtesy of The Daily Star