Bangladesh News

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) along with Narayanganj and Gazipur district authorities yesterday pulled down five major structures built illegally on the Shitalakhya and Turag rivers.

The eviction team BIWTA and Gazipur district administration officials arrived at the site of Sajid Washing and Dyeing Ltd, a concern of Ha-meem Group, at 10:00am along with 105 labourers and a tugboat.

“We encountered resistance for the first time from Ha-meem Group chairman AK Azad,” said BIWTA Deputy Director Saiful Islam.

Sajid Washing, a huge building located near Kamarpara Bridge in Tongi, was built so as to devour a 150 x 95 area of Turag, said the on-duty BIWTA officials.

“Ha-meem Group chairman picked an altercation with the team and threatened with worsening law and order situation but finally he gave in as the on-duty magistrate was tough on him,” Islam said.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Gazipur Atul Sarkar said the government officials engaged in the drive did not have to face any difficulties or any persuasion from any influential quarter during the eviction.

Meanwhile, the eviction drive in the Shitalakhya in Narayanganj continued yesterday for the second day starting from 10:00am.

The eviction team of BIWTA and the Narayanganj district administration partially knocked down two buildings – a six-storey and a seven-storey– of the Blooming Fashion garments factory located at Tanbazar.

Md Shahnewaz, owner of the factory, admitted that around 22 feet of the same building built illegally on the river was demolished in a drive during the caretaker government.

Magistrate Abdul Hai of Narayanganj said, “We are continuing with the eviction drive in full swing and there has been no resistance so far.”

“We will continue to do so as long as it requires and spare none,” said Hai.

BIWTA Joint Director Abul Bashar vowed that they would continue with the drive in the Shitalakhya until all illegal structures are dismantled.

Two magistrates including Abul Kashem were engaged in the drive in the Shitalakhya. Narayanganj Sadar UNO Motahar Hossain was also present during the eviction.

Two BIWTA tugboats and 120 labourers were engaged during the demolition.

A total of 134 structures including small makeshift ones jutting into the river Shitalakhya have been listed for demolition.

Five of them have obtained court’s stay orders on eviction.

But a number of religious structures on the river Turag were given immunity from evcition taking into consideration the religious sentiment, said the officials concerned.

The drive in Turag is now being conducted only on the Tongi part of the river.

A total of 63 structures were identified as illegally built upon the river on Tongi part while 69 were on the Dhaka end.

The drives in both the rivers resume this morning.

Our Narayanganj correspondent reports: The team also tore down a section of a five-story building owned by Jahangir and finished demolition of a portion of another building of the same owner.

Shahnewaz obtained a court’s stay order on eviction of another building he owns.