RHD demolishes 100 illegal structures

Roads and Highways Department (RHD) demolished 100-odd illegal structures on Dhaka-Aricha highway yesterday.

On the first day of a two-day drive, an RHD team knocked down structures from National Memorial area to Dhulivita in Dhamrai stretching around 4km, said Executive Magistrate Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman.

The structures were mostly restaurants and shops, said Faruki, also estate and law officer of RHD in Dhaka.

Many of those whose structures were demolished alleged that they were not informed before the drive. But when asked why they were illegally running businesses by the highway, they kept mum.

Faruki said they let building owners know about the drive through loudspeakers two days ago. "The drive is being conducted based on the map made by surveyors," he said.

The executive magistrate said both sides of Dhaka-Aricha highway would be cleared soon.