Shitalakkhya eviction drive resumes today

Narayanganj District Administration along with Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) will resume the eviction drive from today to rescue Shitalakkhya River from encroachers.
However an allowance of a period of three months was given to 10 business organisations months to remove their structures from that area and look for alternatives.
Among the ten companies which filed an appeal with the Supreme Court seeking stay on eviction notice : City Group of Industries, Heidelberg Cement Bangladesh Ltd, Kamal Vegetable, Akij Cement, ACI Cement, Cemex Cement and Molla Salt Industries.
"We have given ten private business organisations three months time as they deal with essential commodities," said Md. Shamsur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj.
"We have asked them to demolish the jetties at their own cost," said Rahman.
Port officials of Narayanganj said a total of 40 illegal structures including concrete and semi-concrete situated in the south of BIWTA terminal will come under demolition hammer today.
On May 3, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court passed an order dismissing the appeals filed by the business groups.
However, they challenged the High Court Order that directed the government to remove all the structures from the embankment areas of the four rivers including Shitalakkhya, Balu, Turag and Buriganga.
The companies said they had obtained permission from BIWTA in order to build those jetties.