Railway eviction drive on amid protest
Amid protests from slum dwellers, railway (west zone) authorities yesterday evicted hundreds of residents and demolished illegal structures on its 10 acres of land in Rajshahi city.
Beginning on Tuesday, the drive continued in Dingadoba and Court railway station areas.
Slum dwellers said they had been living there for over three decades. They urged the prime minister to rehabilitate them.
Visiting the area, resident Motiar Sheikh was seen holding a placard, which read: "When 10 lakh Rohingyas were given shelter why can we not get a place to live?"
Rakena Begum said she had been living in the slum near Court Railway station for 30 years. “I have no place to go now.”
Another resident Alamgir Hossain alleged that an office and market near the court station was not dismantled as they were occupied by an Awami League leader.
Asked, Md Nuruzzaman, railway's executive magistrate, said some 12 establishments including the AL leader's office were not demolished as they were using the railway land on lease.
Yasin Ali, railway estate officer, said they demolished around 800 illegal structures on the 10-acre land in two days.
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