Encroachers take over river banks

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Author / Source : ANISUR RAHMAN KHAN

DHAKA, JUNE 24: The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has identified 61 points along the Buriganga and Turag rivers where illegal structures are being constructed on the banks by encroachers.
Encroachers have been grabbing river banks by constructing unauthorised structures using brick, sand and bamboo, sources said. They noted an extra surge of activity during the monsoon as most river banks become submerged during this period. Senior deputy director (port) of the BIWTA, Sharif Afzal, told The Independent on Friday that  in many cases police refuse to record cases against these river grabbers. He said such an attitude on the part of the police only encourages the encroachers to carry on their illegal activity. "We do not have our own law enforcement agency. So, we have to depend on the police and magistrates to drive away encroachers."
He said the BIWTA had already sought direction from the court on how to free government lands from encroachers and also regarding the role of the police in this connection.
A large portion of the Turag, Buriganga, Balu and Shitalakhhya rivers are being grabbed by encroachers at 35 points, said Mahabubul Alam, director (port) of the BIWTA. "We have sought money to remove these structures. However, we have been able to remove encroachers from some of these points," he added.
According to BIWTA sources, Kamrangirchar, Shah Ali, Keraniganj, Darus Salam, Savar, Mohammadpur, Hazaribagh, Turag, Tongi, Uttara, Dakkhin Khan, Demra, Rupganj and Joydevpur police stations have refused to file cases against the river grabbers.
Abdul Jabbar, owner of the Hazi Rasulbagh dockyard in the Keraniganj police station area, Rahmat Ali and Md Farid of Tangail housing, Md Sattar, Delwar Hossain, Md Mokles, Abul Hossain, Mahbub Alam and Atiur Rahman of Baroikhali in the Mohammadpur PS area, Deen Mohammad Gazi and Joynal Gazi of Jhaulahati in the Kamrangirchar PS area, Golam Qayum Panna of Star Housing of Chatbari in the Shah Ali PS area, Hafej Abu Bakkar in the Keraniganj model PS area, Hazi Mahbubur Rahman of Lalbagh in Kamrangirchar, Miraz Ahmed of Kaundia in the Savar PS area, M/S Mayer Doa enterprise of Pangaon in Keraniganj, Jaz Miah, Chunnu Miah, Hazi Mominul Huq and Forman Ali of Choto Dia bari in the Darus Salam PS area, Babul Miah and Abbas Ali of Baghbari in Darus Salam PS area, Abdul Karim, Md Alauddin and Ismail Hossain Repu in the Savar PS area, chairman of the Basila Garden city, chairman of Chandrima Real Estate Ltd, chairman of Dhaka Uddayan, chairman of Metro Housing and chairman of Turag Housing in the Mohamadpur PS area, Md Ismail of Smita Traders of Mirpur Balurghat in the Darus Salam PS area, and Abdus Salam, managing director of M/S Domino Ltd and MR Centre of Banani were reported to have grabbed the banks of the Buriganga and Turag rivers.

Certain elements, said to be linked to the ruling party, in cahoots with a section of officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the land department, are allegedly backing people grabbing the rivers and water bodies across the country, defying repeated warnings from the Prime Minister and the High Court.
“The government should take urgent steps against the construction of new structures on the river banks. The existence of Dhaka city is related to the survival of its rivers,” said Khalilur Rahman, a resident of Kamrangirchar.
Some influential quarters have been going ahead with the encroachment of the rivers by earth filling and building illegal structures at different points along the banks of the Turag,  narrowing it further between Diabari at Amin Bazar and on the Ashulia Bridge point.
Although the department of environment took steps against some encroachers last week, it has not deterred others from grabbing river banks.

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