By Rafiqul Islam
DHAKA, Feb 28, 2020 (BSS) – At least 5,574 illegal riverbank structures
were demolished, recovering about 593 acres of occupied land in the first
phase of government’s countrywide drive to free small rivers and canals from
illicit encroachment.
Official data shows a total of 1,022 illegal structures were demolished in
Rajshahi division during the drive, recovering about 88 acres of land from
occupation. Of those, around 700 illegal structures were evicted only in
Sirajganj district.
In Khulna division, 1,038 illegal structures were removed from the banks of
different rivers, recovering about 40 acres of land. Maximum 250 structures
were demolished in Magura district.
A total of 657 illegal structures were evicted in Rangpur division during
the drive, recovering about 46 acres of land from river grabbing. Of those,
around 465 illegal structures were evicted only in Dinajpur district.
In Barishal division, 201 illegal structures were demolished from
riverbanks, recovering about 16 acres land during the eviction drive carried
out by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).
A total of 768 structures were demolished in Dhaka division during the
drive, recovering about 59 acres of land from rivers, while 863 illegal
structures were evicted in Mymensingh division and recovered 58 acres of
land. About 550 structures were evicted from the banks of Old Brahmaputra
River in Mymensingh district.
In Sylhet Division, 225 illegal structures were demolished from riverbanks,
while a total of 800 establishments were removed from rivers in Chattogram,
recovering 275 acres of land from occupation, according to the official data.
The second phase of the eviction drive began on February 23 last, public
relations officer of the Water Resources Ministry Asif Ahmed told BSS.
On December 23, 2019, the BWDB under the Ministry of Water Resources
started countrywide eviction drive aiming to free small rivers, canals from
encroachment.
All district administrations and local offices of the BWDB carried out the
drives to demolish structures encroaching small rivers, canals and water
bodies.
The BWDB has set a target to evict 92,294 illegal structures from the
rivers and other water bodies across the country during the drive which began
in all 64 districts at the same time.
In Dhaka, the authorities started a drive on the bank of the Ramchandrapur
canal in Mohammadpur. Water Resources secretary Kabir Bin Anwar inaugurated
the drive.
The Ministry of Water Resources is supervising the drive under the first
phase of the re-excavation project of small rivers, canals and water bodies
in 64 districts of the country.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Kabir said after a year-long effort,
all the district administrators have made the list of illegal structures as
per the Bangladesh Water Act 2013.
He said “To stop re-encroachment, we have a plan to plant trees and build
walkways along the canal”.