Louhajang Riverbank: 250 illegal structures demolished in Tangail
A total of 250 illegal structures, including 20 high-rise buildings, were removed from the banks of the Louhajang river in a land recovery drive yesterday.
Md Shahidul Islam, deputy commissioner in Tangail, said this to journalists after conducting a drive from Beradoma to Housing Settlement in the municipal area.
Responding to the authorities' request, owners of most of these illegal structures removed their establishments on their own, he said, dubbing this as the main success of the drive.
He also said works are now underway to free the whole 76-kilometres of the river's bank. This will be accomplished by recovering land from grabbers in phases.
Sazzad Khoshnobish, a local environmental activist, told this correspondent that local green activists demand that all canal links to the Louhajang river also be recovered.
Asked about this, the DC assured that canal links will be recovered as soon as possible.
Mustary Kaderi, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) in Tangail; Atiqul Islam, Sadar upazila nirbahi officer and Upoma Farisha, assistant commissioner (land); Saifuzzaman Sohel, panel mayor of Tangail municipality; and Zafar Ahmed, president of Tangail Press Club, were present during the drive.
Over the years, Louhajang river, a lifeline for town dwellers, has become almost dead due to mindless grabbing. The drive to free the river from illegal encroachment was started in the municipal area back in February 25.
More than 450 illegal structures were detected beside the river banks at the Sadar upazila area. Of these, 260 illegal structures were detected at the one-and-half kilometress stretch from Beradoma to Hazra Ghat area in the municipality.
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