Freeing Burigagna becomes tougher: Vested quarters lobbying with ruling partymen

The government initiative to demolish all illegal structures from the riverbed of Buriganga is facing obstruction from some influential quarters.
People residing on the banks of the river alleged that people with political connection have been grabbing the Buriganga River over the years. But all government efforts to recover grabbed lands have so far failed due to the interference of powerful vested quarters.
They blamed the political leaders of the past BNP-led government and their relatives for occupying vast tract of land of the river Buriganga at Kholamura, Kamrangir Char, Keraniganj and Basila and constructing houses and other structures after earth filling.
The present government seems to be helpless in recovering the lands because of the strong clout of the land grabbers with some influential people close in the corridors of power.
All the governments in the past had also taken initiatives to demolish illegal structures but their drive did not succeed for the same reason, they further said.
Local people said land grabbers, irrespective of their political affiliations, join together when the government takes any initiative to resist them.
As per the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to recover all grabbed lands of the Buriganga, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) recently has launched a drive to demolish illegal structures. But BIWTA is facing tough resistance from the influential quarters in carrying out the task.
After visiting different areas of the river on July 4, the then Shipping Minister directed the BIWTA to remove sand that was accumulated in the riverbed on the western part of Kholamura area. But a powerful quarter is opposing the move, locals said.
Local people apprehended that the interference of the vested quarters will further encourage the encroachers to occupy more river lands.
The local people also demanded the government to take quick action against those creating impediments in the BIWTA’s drive to resist the land grabbers.

Courtesy of The New Nation