MP tries to block eviction drive: BIWTA

An eviction team, comprising officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the district administration, yesterday ran into hurdles placed by ruling party lawmaker from Dhaka-14 constituency Aslamul Huq and his supporters, alleged officials. Aslam directed BIWTA officials around 11am yesterday to suspend an ongoing eviction drive on the western side of the Basila Bridge of the Buriganga river. But the district administration and BIWTA officials continued the drive, ignoring the MP’s objection, BIWTA said.

Aslamul Huq allegedly has set up a power generation unit on the bank of the Buriganga on the western side of Basila Bridge under Kernaiganj upazila by grabbing some portions of the river and water Development Board land. According to BIWTA officials, the lawmaker has built his power generation plant occupying some parts of the river and that the BIWTA has reclaimed three acres of land already.

Aslamul Huq grabbed at least five acres of river land, BIWTA officials said. The BIWTA eviction team demolished 23 illegal structures from the power plant site yesterday. Aslamul asked the BIWTA officials to show him a joint survey report and insisted the eviction drive should stop otherwise.

“I won’t allow BIWTA officials to continue their drive. The BIWTA had given me a no-objection certificate (NOC) before the power plant was set up. Now, they are evicting structures without serving any notice,” he told reporters.

The BIWTA did not conduct any drive on the land for which the BIWTA had given an NOC to the lawmaker, said Dhaka river port joint Director AKM Arifuddin, adding, “The lawmaker has filled up river banks. So, we are just conducting a drive in those portions that have been grabbed by the lawmaker.”

At least 70–80 people accompanied Aslamul Haque at the scene, but they fled when chased by the police. The BIWTA removed the illegal installations in the area and red flags were put up to identify the river lands. The BIWTA has removed 15 illegal structures in the Charwashpur area from the banks of the Buriganga and Turag rivers.

 

MP tries to block eviction drive: BIWTA

An eviction team, comprising officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the district administration, yesterday ran into hurdles placed by ruling party lawmaker from Dhaka-14 constituency Aslamul Huq and his supporters, alleged officials. Aslam directed BIWTA officials around 11am yesterday to suspend an ongoing eviction drive on the western side of the Basila Bridge of the Buriganga river. But the district administration and BIWTA officials continued the drive, ignoring the MPs objection, BIWTA said. Aslamul Huq allegedly has set up a power generation unit on the bank of the Buriganga on the western side of Basila Bridge under Kernaiganj upazila by grabbing some portions of the river and water Development Board land. According to BIWTA officials, the lawmaker has built his power generation plant occupying some parts of the river and that the BIWTA has reclaimed three acres of land already. Aslamul Huq grabbed at least five acres of river land, BIWTA officials said. The BIWTA eviction team demolished 23 illegal structures from the power plant site yesterday. Aslamul asked the BIWTA officials to show him a joint survey report and insisted the eviction drive should stop otherwise. I wont allow BIWTA officials to continue their drive. The BIWTA had given me a no-objection certificate (NOC) before the power plant was set up. Now, they are evicting structures without serving any notice, he told reporters. The BIWTA did not conduct any drive on the land for which the BIWTA had given an NOC to the lawmaker, said Dhaka river port joint Director AKM Arifuddin, adding, The lawmaker has filled up river banks. So, we are just conducting a drive in those portions that have been grabbed by the lawmaker. At least 7080 people accompanied Aslamul Haque at the scene, but they fled when chased by the police. The BIWTA removed the illegal installations in the area and red flags were put up to identify the river lands. The BIWTA has removed 15 illegal structures in the Charwashpur area from the banks of the Buriganga and Turag rivers.