The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) authorities yesterday retrieved 2.14 acres of its land by evicting over 900 families from the encroached land known as Paribagh slum.

Meanwhile, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) demolished over 600 shanties at the Begunbari slum.

Around 100 forth class employees of BSMMU illegally constructed about 450 shanties on the land and had been collecting rentals from the 900 families.

Several hundred SSC examinees living in the slum brought out a procession in the area demanding suspension of the eviction drive until the SSC examinations are over.

The BSMMU authorities, however, could not recover another 16 decimals of encroached land, occupied by several high-rise structures, due to two separate court injunctions.

The construction of the buildings on the encroached BSMMU land went on unabated as the BSMMU authorities did not resist it in time, alleged sources.

Prof MA Mannan, chairman of Property Recovery Committee of BSMMU, told The Daily Star, "We cannot remove them as there are court injunctions. However, we are continuing our battle [in court] against the injunctions."

Parts of the buildings, however, have been constructed on BSMMU land and the remainder on land belonging to the building owners, he added.

Commenting on BSMMU employees' involvement in building and renting out slums on the encroached land, he said, "It has been to our knowledge that some BSMMU staff had been collecting rentals from the slum dwellers."

Witnesses said nearly 100 workers hired by the BSMMU authorities conducted the eviction drive since the morning in presence of a magistrate and around 50 police personnel.

Sources said influential BSMMU employees, with the connivance of some staff members had built the shanties and tin-roofed houses for rental purposes.

Evicted slum dweller Aleya Begum, 60, from Natore, told The Daily Star, "My family had been living here for the last 10 years. I've been paying Tk 1,600 rental [per month] to BSMMU staff Liton."

"The BSMMU authorities announced about the eviction two days ago, but we were doubtful if the eviction would take place at all since several similar instructions in the past were never carried out."

According to sources, a number of the fourth-class employees of the BSMMU who are involved in the rental business on the encroached land now own buildings and flats elsewhere.

RAJUK DRIVE AT BEGUNBARI
Rajuk authorities yesterday demolished over 600 shanties at the Begunbari slum, rendering hundreds of dwellers homeless.

The Rajuk authorities with the help of police conducted the drive from 10:00am till 5:00pm, said police.

A heart-rending situation arose in the slum area when the slum dwellers started to cry and request Rajuk officials not to destroy their homes.

A number of slum dwellers alleged that the Rajuk authorities did not inform them of the date of the drive beforehand.

Rebutting the allegation, Rajuk officials claimed that they had served notice regarding the eviction drive five days ago.

The evicted inhabitants couldn't help but watch their belongings being destroyed before their very eyes while a large number of police stood on guard.