Shitalakkhya

12 more structures demolished

2 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

A joint team of Narayanganj district administration and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority knocked down illegal portions of 12 structures on the Shitalakkhya during an eviction drive yesterday. The structures include three concrete buildings, walls, concrete toilets, and tin-shed buildings, said Alamgir Kabir, deputy director of Narayanganj river port. The authorities, however, left a part of a four-storied building to be pulled down by its owner. The team led by executive magistrates Shova Shahnaz and Shamsuddouza started the drive near Syedpur Bridge (Kadamtali in Laxma mouja) to complete the unfinished demolition work of a guide wall of Sharmin Jute Balers and an extended part of Kadamtali Jam-e-Masjid. “Though the mosque authorities claimed that they built the building as a residence of their Imam, we found garments machinery and fabrics in it,” said Syed Mehedi Hasan, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) of Narayanganj. The drive got stalled for some time on reaching Bhagabanganj due to lack of proper direction and coordination. The rubbles of the structures were being thrown into the river, which may cause further filling up of it, reports our Narayanganj correspondent. The authorities resumed the drive following a dismissal of an appeal petition by the Supreme Court around four months after the last drive in February. The district administration, however, allowed 10 top business groups including City Group of Industries, Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Ltd, Kamal Vegetable, Akij Cement, ACI Cement, Cemex Cement and Molla Salt Industries a three- month time to remove their concrete jetties from the river area on their own initiatives. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority employed around 200 labourers, two tugboats--Augrabahak and Augrani, and two workboats for the demolition work yesterday. Authorities have notified 320 illegal structures including jetties, warehouse, walls and extended parts of residential and industrial buildings for demolition. The drive will resume on Monday.