Religious, Edn Institutions: Structures close to city rivers to be relocated
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday said the government would take up a project to relocate religious and educational establishments built within the boundaries of the rivers in and around the capital.
"We don't want to evict religious structures. We have discussed with the government whether it would be possible to build these structures in a planned way," he said at a meeting in this regard.
Khalid said the government wanted to free the rivers surrounding the capital to make the city livable.
The state minister was speaking at the meeting with officials of religious affairs ministry, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and two Dhaka city corporations.
He said 113 religious and educational establishments were built along the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, Shitalakkhya and Dhaleshwari rivers.
Of the establishments, 77 are mosques, madrasas, orphanages, and shrines, five graveyards and places for washing dead bodies, an Eidgah, 14 schools and colleges, and 13 temples, bathing places and crematoriums.
"We are yet to make any move against those structures which are related to religious sentiment. A discussion is underway in this regard," the state minister added.
Khalid assured that these structures would be relocated following discussions and no force would be applied [on anybody].
He said a survey was underway in this regard and there would also be a project. "It will be implemented after we get the government's approval."
He also warned against any attempts to politicise the issue of relocating places of worship and spread misleading information.
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