Buriganga old Channel

Demolition of illegal structures begins

Shipping minister Shajahan Khan has said that the governmet will remove all illegal structures from the Buriganga Adi Channel to beautify the stream and its adjoining area like the Hatirjheel project. “The Buriganga will get back its previous look as we will demolish all illegal structures from both sides of the river,” he said yesterday while beginning the eviction drive at the city’s Islambagh in Kamrangirchar.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sayeed Khokon, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq, National River Protection Commission chairman Ataharul Islam, DSCC chief executive officer Khan Mohammad Billal, additional district commissioner of Dhaka Shahidul Islam, local ward councillor and others were present on the occasion.
The BIWTA, DSCC and Dhaka district administration will jointly continue the eviction drive for three months from Islambagh to Basila.
“Stern action will be taken against the encroachers and persons involved in river pollution. The culprits will be jailed and fined," said the minister.
"This river was once the beauty of Dhaka, but a group of unscrupulous people have erected structures on both sides of the river illegally. The Adi (old) Channel has lost its course due to such encroachment. The government is determined to restore the channel by demolishing the illegal structures,” he added.
The minister said the authorities concerned built 20km walkways to protect the banks of the Buriganga, the Turag and the Shitalakhya from encroachment. “We'll construct 50km walkways in the current fiscal year. We've plans to build 240km walkways on both sides of the city rivers to prevent encroachers from grabbing the river banks again,” he added.
Stating that the city corporation would extend help in the eviction drive, Sayeed Khokon said: “A section of influential group is grabbing the city rivers. The encroachers will be removed irrespective of their creed and colour." Seeking cooperation from local people in the eviction drive, BIWTA chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq said: “There is a legal complexity as the Dhaka district administration is supposed to look after the Buriganga Adi Channel.” He asked the Dhaka district administration to hand over the responsibility of the Adi channel to the BIWTA.

 

Buriganga old Channel

Demolition of illegal structures begins

Shipping minister Shajahan Khan has said that the governmet will remove all illegal structures from the Buriganga Adi Channel to beautify the stream and its adjoining area like the Hatirjheel project. The Buriganga will get back its previous look as we will demolish all illegal structures from both sides of the river, he said yesterday while beginning the eviction drive at the citys Islambagh in Kamrangirchar. Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sayeed Khokon, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq, National River Protection Commission chairman Ataharul Islam, DSCC chief executive officer Khan Mohammad Billal, additional district commissioner of Dhaka Shahidul Islam, local ward councillor and others were present on the occasion. The BIWTA, DSCC and Dhaka district administration will jointly continue the eviction drive for three months from Islambagh to Basila. Stern action will be taken against the encroachers and persons involved in river pollution. The culprits will be jailed and fined, said the minister. This river was once the beauty of Dhaka, but a group of unscrupulous people have erected structures on both sides of the river illegally. The Adi (old) Channel has lost its course due to such encroachment. The government is determined to restore the channel by demolishing the illegal structures, he added. The minister said the authorities concerned built 20km walkways to protect the banks of the Buriganga, the Turag and the Shitalakhya from encroachment. Well construct 50km walkways in the current fiscal year. Weve plans to build 240km walkways on both sides of the city rivers to prevent encroachers from grabbing the river banks again, he added. Stating that the city corporation would extend help in the eviction drive, Sayeed Khokon said: A section of influential group is grabbing the city rivers. The encroachers will be removed irrespective of their creed and colour. Seeking cooperation from local people in the eviction drive, BIWTA chairman Commodore M Mozammel Huq said: There is a legal complexity as the Dhaka district administration is supposed to look after the Buriganga Adi Channel. He asked the Dhaka district administration to hand over the responsibility of the Adi channel to the BIWTA.