Minister talks tough against encroachment

Stern action will be taken against encroachers on rivers and along their banks, shipping minister Shajahan Khan warned yesterday.
“We have taken several initiatives to beautify the river banks, including construction of walkways and setting up eco-parks by removing illegal structures. Such initiatives would help to prevent encroachment and protect the rivers,” the minister told reporters after inaugurating a tree plantation programme at Kanchpur eco-park near the landing station at Shiddirganj in Narayanganj.
“We won’t tolerate anyone involved in grabbing rivers and their banks after completion of the beautification drive. Action will be taken against them as per law,” he said.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has set up an eco-park on 147 acres of land on the bank of the River Shitalakhya. The BIWTA had evicted a clutch of grabbers to reclaim the land, the minister said.
The minister also said that the government will allow private investors interested in setting up eco-parks in Kanchpur area.
Khan directed the BIWTA to cancel the lease order of former union parishad (UP) chairman Shahidul Islam appointed as lessee for Kanchpur Landing Station. He also ordered the authorities concerned to seize the goods piled on the bank of the River Shitalakhya by conducting mobile courts and auction them.
“Some agreements will be signed between Bangladesh and India during the visit of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. There are some trade related agreements through waterways. Such agreements will help to boost the country’s economy,” he said.
Local lawmakers Selim Osman, Shamim Osman, BIWTA chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq and senior officials were present during the tree plantation programme.
Earlier, the BIWTA had setup another eco-park at Shyampur in a bid to prevent encroachment of the river Buriganga, restoring the beauty of the city’s diminishing shoreline.
The eco-park has constructed at a cost of Tk 1.47 crore on seven acres of land, and shipping minister Shajahan Khan opened it on October 7, 2012.
The park has been set up with all amenities and amusement facilities for the public to relax on the bank of the river Buriganga.
The facilities of the park provides, includes walkways, benches, shades for rest, toilets, guard shades and different types of trees and flowers.
The BIWTA has cleared the land from encroachers for setting up the eco-park under the ‘construction of port facilities in order to prevent unauthorized encroachment of the Buriganga river and its foreshore land.’

Minister talks tough against encroachment

Stern action will be taken against encroachers on rivers and along their banks, shipping minister Shajahan Khan warned yesterday. We have taken several initiatives to beautify the river banks, including construction of walkways and setting up eco-parks by removing illegal structures. Such initiatives would help to prevent encroachment and protect the rivers, the minister told reporters after inaugurating a tree plantation programme at Kanchpur eco-park near the landing station at Shiddirganj in Narayanganj. We wont tolerate anyone involved in grabbing rivers and their banks after completion of the beautification drive. Action will be taken against them as per law, he said. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has set up an eco-park on 147 acres of land on the bank of the River Shitalakhya. The BIWTA had evicted a clutch of grabbers to reclaim the land, the minister said. The minister also said that the government will allow private investors interested in setting up eco-parks in Kanchpur area. Khan directed the BIWTA to cancel the lease order of former union parishad (UP) chairman Shahidul Islam appointed as lessee for Kanchpur Landing Station. He also ordered the authorities concerned to seize the goods piled on the bank of the River Shitalakhya by conducting mobile courts and auction them. Some agreements will be signed between Bangladesh and India during the visit of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. There are some trade related agreements through waterways. Such agreements will help to boost the countrys economy, he said. Local lawmakers Selim Osman, Shamim Osman, BIWTA chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq and senior officials were present during the tree plantation programme. Earlier, the BIWTA had setup another eco-park at Shyampur in a bid to prevent encroachment of the river Buriganga, restoring the beauty of the citys diminishing shoreline. The eco-park has constructed at a cost of Tk 1.47 crore on seven acres of land, and shipping minister Shajahan Khan opened it on October 7, 2012. The park has been set up with all amenities and amusement facilities for the public to relax on the bank of the river Buriganga. The facilities of the park provides, includes walkways, benches, shades for rest, toilets, guard shades and different types of trees and flowers. The BIWTA has cleared the land from encroachers for setting up the eco-park under the construction of port facilities in order to prevent unauthorized encroachment of the Buriganga river and its foreshore land.