Grabbers active again as demolition drive stalled

Encroachers continue erecting illegal structures on the Mayur River as Khulna City Corporation's drive to free the river and several canals from grabbers has remained suspended since February. Photo: STARStaff Correspondent, Khulna

A section of unscrupulous people have again started erecting unauthorised structures on the bank of Mayur River and different canals under the jurisdiction of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) as drive against illegal occupation has remained suspended since February this year.

Twenty-five of the 56 listed canals in KCC area were freed from illegal occupiers in two phases as KCC on July 1 last year started the drive for a permanent solution to menacing water logging by facilitating easy flow-out of rainwater from drains of Khulna city.

For this purpose, KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque formed a 15-member committee with ward councillor Shahid Iqbal Bithar as its convenor.

But only a few days after start of the drive, criminals gunned down Bithar on July 11 in front of his residence in the city and it led to suspension of the demolition drive for two months.

The drive resumed on September 2 last year with KCC Panel Mayor-1 Ajmol Ahmed Tapan as new convenor of the drive committee.

However, the second drive went on at a slow pace reportedly due to some legal complications that stood in the way of demolishing unauthorised structures from canals encroached by different influential people, mostly belonging to the ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP.

A few businessmen and government officials are also allegedly among the illegal occupiers.

In February this year, drive against encroachers was suspended again.

By that time, un-authorised structures on 25 of the 51 canals listed by the committee were demolished.

Following suspension of the drive, illegal occupiers again started erecting buildings on both sides of Mayur River and several canals in the city.

Talking to this correspondent, convenor of the demolition drive committee Ajmol Ahmed Tapan reiterated their firm determination to resume the drive to free remaining 26 canals from encroachers as early as possible.

"Fund crisis is the main cause for suspension of the demolition drive. Tk 8 to 10 thousand is required per day to continue the drive. We have asked for fund from the ministry concerned for that purpose," he said.

"Legal action will be taken against those who have erected unauthorised buildings again on the canals and the banks of Mayur River, which were freed earlier during first and second drives. We have collected names of the occupiers," said Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque.