100 illegal structures on Buriganga river demolished

Dhaka, Feb 05 – The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Tuesday has demolished around 100 structures that built illegally grabbing the river bank of Buriganga.
The second face eviction drive of its 11-day programme has conducted at city’s Nababerchar in Kamrangirchar areas.
The BIWTA eviction team led by its executive magistrate Mostafizur Rahman has demolished at least 100 illegal structures including one 4-storey residential building, four 3-storey residential buildings,
five two-storey buildings, six one-storey buildings, seven tin-shed houses, 30 sawmills, 10 plastic, biscuits and cement godowns. Besides, many bamboo made houses were also demolished, deputy director of BIWTA (Sadarghat river port) Mizanur Rahman told The Independent yesterday.
According to Rahman, “we have primarily identified and prepared a list of 609 structures that built illegally grabbing the river banks from Sadarghat to Gabtali. All the illegal structures and establishments
will be evicted in phases till February 19.”
A total of 444 illegal structures including multi-storey residential buildings have been demolished between January 29 and 31 during first phase eviction drive, he added.
“Though we had decided to evict 609 illegal structures primarily but in reality the number is more than our prepared list. So, our eviction drive might be extended and more illegal structures will be demolished after preparing a new list,” he said in reply to a query.
Rahman further said, the illegal structures which are now being demolished on a priority basis but rest will be demolished soon.
“This time the BIWTA will preserve the reclaimed river banks permanently through constructing walkways, parks and rallying.
Besides, concrete slabs will be setup alongside riverbanks so that the dishonest people won’t able to grab the riverbanks further,” he added.
He said the BIWTA will also plantain trees and setting up flower gardens alongside the riverbanks too.
The eviction drive is a continuous process, he added.
The drive will be conducted from Keraniganj, Sadarghat, Kholamora, Basila, Kamrangirchar and up to Gabtoli, he said, adding that the drive could be expanded on the basis of illegal structures.
According to BIWTA sources, around 10,000 illegal structures have been evicted so far in the last few years from the river banks. Satff Reporter