Rajuk knocks down small structures

Rajuk knocks down small structures occupying Gulshan Lake along Gulshan-South Badda Link Road yesterday. Most of these dwellings belonged to poor people. However, the authorities could not tear down buildings owned by big fishes due to court orders. Photo:Star

Rajuk demolished a number of makeshift structures and an automobile workshop on Gulshan Lake along Gulshan-South Badda link road yesterday as part of its plan to recover the lake land.
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, however, could not knock down most of the permanent structures in the lake area due to legal tangles.
Homeless and floating people erected bamboo-made structures to stay and run petty businesses, sources said.
Most structures built by the prominent lake grabbers could not be knocked down due to the High Court's orders, said Rajuk Executive Magistrate Rokon Ud-Doula who led the drive.
Rajuk Executive Engineer Nurul Islam and some policemen also took part in the drive while two powerful bulldozers were used.
On March 9, Rajuk demolished about 100 makeshift structures and a demarcation fence in the lake area at Shajadpur but could not knock down scores of "illegal permanent structures" built on the lake land.
The lake was declared ecologically critical in 1997.