The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority on Wednesday conducted a drive to demolish illegal establishments in three kilometre areas along the River Buriganga.
The seven-hour drive started from Zinjira ferry terminal opposite the Sadarghat launch
terminal and ended to Buriganga Telghat.The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and the deputy commissioner’s office of Dhaka conducted the drive, led by DC office executive magistrate Rasel Ul Qader.
He said that according to DC office there were nearly 225 illegal establishments on the land of the river and till Wednesday they demolished 70 per cent of the illegal establishments.
The DC office magistrate told New Age that most of the illegal establishments were shanties, 11 generator houses and political party offices, including Sramik League and Juba League offices.
He said they demolished the generator houses and ordered the owners to remove the heavy instruments as early as possible.
Rasel added if they would fail to complete demolition of all the 225 structures, they might continue their drive.
During the drive, Imam Haque, a tea shop owner, requested the law enforcing officials to allow him to run the stall.
He told New Age that his tea stall did not do any harm to the river as they just simply sold tea and snacks but the officers demolished his stall.
BIWTA director (port) Shafiqul Haque told New Age, ‘We have to save rivers’.
He said that the river’s 17 kilometres area belonged to the BIWTA whereas the DC office owned Kamrangirchar and some other parts of this area.
Shafiqul said the eviction drive was a continuous process but for manpower shortage they were failing to conduct the drive regularly.
He said due to illegal encroachment, Burignaga was losing its original shape. ‘But for sustainable environment, we need to protect our rivers from pollution and encroachment.’
The director (port) said very soon they would also launch a drive near Gabtali.
He added that on June 4 shipping minister Shajahan Khan visited this place and ordered the demolition of all illegal structures.
-With New Age input
