Dhaka-Pabna Highway: 350 illegal structures demolished

The Roads and Highways Department has demolished over 350 illegal establishments beside Dhaka-Pabna highway in Pabna in the last two days.

Of the establishments, 250 were removed in Santhia upazila on Thursday and 100 more in Bera upazila yesterday, said RHD officials.

Samiron Roy, executive engineer of RHD (Pabna), said they conducted the drive following the order of a mobile court.

The structures that had been demolished were constructed by a group of influential people, he added without naming the influential people.

RHD Join Secretary Mahabubur Rahman Faruki said the drive was conducted to ensure safe and easy movement of vehicles on the highway.

“We have already freed the Dhaka-Pabna highway at Kashinathpur, Ataikula and Pabna town in the last couple of days. We will conduct another drive in Dashuria and other important areas,” he said.

Faruki, along with Executive Magistrate Khondokar Mahaudul Hasan, led the drive comprised of law enforcers and the service department officials.

The people who were evicted, however, alleged that the authorities had not provided them with enough time to move from those places.

Asked, RHD executive engineer Simron said, “There was announcement everywhere before the eviction. People do not want to leave the places and this was the reason why they brought the allegation.”