Traders given 2 days to remove sand
Authorities have removed around thirty makeshift structures from the west foreshore of the rive Shitalakhya and ordered unauthorised sand traders to remove earth filling within two days during an eviction drive yesterday.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Narayanganj district administration conducted the drive that started around 11:00am to free the riverbank from sand filling near Kanchpur Bridge in Shimrail mouza.
"The sand traders were given a two-day notification to remove the earth filling or else the authorities will arrange an auction," said BIWTA Deputy Director Alamgir Kabir.
The sand traders doing business destroying the river and its foreshore are unauthorised. They were served a notice for site eviction during the last caretaker government but they did not pay heed, said the drive officials.
Since no contractor was found on the spot to remove the earth filling, the BIWTA is thinking to carry out the operation using their own logistics.
During the drive Narayanganj Executive Magistrate Abdul Hai said the administration filed an eviction case against 53 encroachers around two months ago but 13 of them obtained stay order from the High Court.
"The aim of the drive is to remove earth filling encroachment upon the river including its foreshore," said Hai.
The BIWTA engaged around a hundred labourers, one workboat and a ship to carry out the operation.
The officials demarcated a stretch of 55 to 60 feet foreshore from the high water mark and 300 feet along the river with concrete pillars.
Magistrate Shamsuzzoha, BIWTA director (port division) Mahabubul Alam, Narayanganj Port Officer Md Abu Zafar Hawlader and Chief Engineer Sadequl Islam were present during the drive.
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