The Chattogram District Administration yesterday knocked down 30 illegal structures along the bank of the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram on the second day of their eviction drive to free the river from encroachment.   

A team led by Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (land) of Patenga circle Tahmilur Rahman started the drive which is being conducted in line with the High Court order to knock down the illegal structures.

“The demolished structures include warehouses and tin-roofed structures. About four acres of land has been freed from encroachment,” said Tahmilur. The authorities demolished at least 50 structures on the first day of their drive.   The total area stretching from Chaktai to Patenga has been divided into three zones to make the eviction drive easier and a total of 2,187 illegal establishments will be demolished.  The Chattogram District Administration on January 31 decided to start the eviction drive.

In 2012, the HC ordered the district administration to conduct a survey to assess how much land of the Karnaphuli was grabbed and prepare a list of land grabbers.

On August 2016 , the HC again directed the same authority to demolish the structures within six months and gave the grabbers three months to remove the structures on their own.

The organisation could not comply with the court order due to fund crunch. Finally, the land ministry provided it with the necessary fund to run the drive, said sources at the district administration.