Dwellers barricade road, demand utility restoration
Hundreds of people in Chattogram yesterday barricaded Lalkhan Bazar intersection, a busy thoroughfare of the port city, demanding restoration of utility services snapped as part of an eviction drive ahead of monsoon to avert casualties in landslides.
People living in Matijarna, Batali Hill and Pora Colony areas blocked the road at 2:30pm during the ongoing eviction drive at nearby hills. They removed the blockade at 3:45pm after being assured by the administration that utility services would be restored by today.
Meanwhile, commuters had to suffer immensely due to the demonstration. They had to remain stuck in tailbacks, which eventually spilled over to nearby areas, including Kazir Dewri, Askar Dighir Par, Ambagan, Agrabad, Wasa and Batter Goli.
Monowara Begum Moni, councillor of Lalkhan Bazar area, told The Daily Star that to avert a tragedy, the administration eventually ended up initiating one.
“They snapped utility connections -- water, power and gas -- to residences where at least 20,000 people live. At best, 100 families are living on hill slopes. You can’t punish all for illegal activities of a handful,” she said.
Poritran Talukdar, assistant commissioner of Bayzid zone of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, told this correspondent that people barricaded the road, demanding restoration of their utility services. “We assured them of restoring the connection after verification by tomorrow [today],” he said.
Mohammed Rubel, who took part in the blockade, said the administration snapped their connections on Friday. “We are protesting their action. They can’t just cut all connections indiscriminately. If they do not reconnect the lines as per assurance, we will have no other option but to take to the street again,” he said.
Touhidul Islam, executive magistrate of Chattogram district administration, said they dismantled at least 100 makeshift structures on hill slopes near Lalkhan Bazar Madrasa yesterday.
He, however, denied snapping all utility connections in the said areas.
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