The High Court yesterday directed the chief judicial magistrate of Gazipur to probe whether there are any illegal structures and encroachments even after removing the illegal structures from the Turag River at Kamarpara. The HC also asked the magistrate to submit a probe report before it in this regard by March 1.
The High Court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the order in response to a petition filed by the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB).
Earlier on November 9 last year, the High Court directed the government to stop encroachment in the river and remove illegal structures from the river and riverbanks.
In compliance with the HC order, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) submitted a report before the High Court yesterday saying that structures constructed by nine organisations in the river have already been removed. But HRPB lawyer Manzill Murshed told the High Court that there might be some illegal structures in the river. Land grabbing is still going on, he said.
The HC bench asked the chief judicial magistrate of Gazipur to give an elaborate explanation on whether the authorities concerned have removed the all illegal structures in accordance with determining pillars of the river.
The chairman of BIWTA, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Gazipur and officer in-charge of Turag Police Station have been asked to assist the magistrate during the investigation periods.
After the HC order, Manzill Murshed told reporters that they have specific information that there is some other illegal structures remaining in the area even after the removal of the illegal structures by the BIWTA.