The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) continued its drive for the fourth consecutive day yesterday to remove sand, which was dumped illegally to fill up the bank of the Shitalakhya River at Kanchpur under Siddhirganj upazila of Narayanganj. The BIWTA along with the Narayanganj district administration is conducting the drive to free the river from encroachment and restore its normal flow.
“Since the beginning of the drive on Thursday, we have removed six lakh cubic feet of sand. Tomorrow, we will remove another one lakh
cubic feet of sand used to grab the riverside walkway,” BIWTA senior deputy director (Narayanganj Port) Alamgir Kabir told reporters yesterday.
Among others, BIWTA Joint Director (Narayanganj River Port) Manjur Quadir, Executive Engineer Md Muslim and a large number of police and Ansar personnel were present during the drive, which is being conducted by the executive magistrate of Narayanganj, Abdur Rouf Talukder.
“In accordance with the High Court order, we have been taking action against encroachers and unauthorised sand traders,” Alamgir said.
He continued: “We have already filed cases against 70 encroachers and sand traders for running their business by illegally occupying the river bank. Besides, a probe committee has been formed and it will prepare a list of grabbers for taking legal action against them.”
The drive at Kanchpur point of Shitalakhya will conclude today.
However, Alamgir Kabir said such drives will continue to free the river from encroachment.
This drive is being conducted as per the instructions of Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and BIWTA Chairman Md. Samsuddoha Khondaker, he added, saying “They want that the Shitalakhya River will regain its usual flow through such drives.”
The High Court on June 25, 2009, ordered the authorities concerned to protect four rivers –Turag, Balu, Buriganga and Shitalakyha — from encroachers, who have built hundreds of illegal structures along the banks of the rivers.
Courtesy of The Independent
