Eviction drive in Karnaphuli river begins in Ctg

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CHATTOGRAM, Feb 4, 2019 (BSS)- Chattogram district administration has
started long awaited eviction drive to demolish over 2,100 illegal structures
erected on both banks of the river Karnaphuli River in the port city.

They are conducting the eviction in collaboration with different stake
holders including Chattogram Development Authority, Chattogram Port
Authority, Directorate of Chattogram Environment and Metropolitan Police from
today.

A team led by executive magistrate and assistant commissioner (land) of
Patenga Tahmilur Rahman started the drive from Sadarghat area at 10 am on
Monday and bulldozed huge number of illegal structures till 12.30 pm.

Tahmilur Rahman told BSS that the total area stretching from Shah Amanat
Bridge to Patenga has been divided into three zones to make the eviction
drive easier and a total of 2,112 illegal establishments will be bulldozed.

Around 200 structures stretching from Sadarghat to Barik Building area will
be removed in the first phase, he said.

Fire Service men, members of Chattogram City Corporation(CCC), Chattogram
Development Authority (CDA), Chattogram Port Authority, Directorate of
Chattogram Environment and Chattogram Metropolitan Police, Rapid Action
Battalion (RAB) are taking part in the eviction drive, he said.

People of all walks of life in the port city hailed the eviction drive.

The decision came following an emergency meeting regarding the eviction at
the Deputy Commissioner Conference room on last Thursday.

On 18 July 2010, the court, after hearing a writ petition by Human Rights
and Peace for Bangladesh, ordered to stop the river’s encroachment, land
filling, and construction of all types of establishments on the river bank.

Following the high court order the district administration detected at
least 2,112 illegal structures, and submitted the report to the court in
2016.