Move finally to save Jessore Laldighi from encroachers

Jessore municipality authorities yesterday demolish 18 illegal structures on the bank of Laldighi, an ancient water body located in the heart of the district town.Photo: STAR

Eighteen illegal structures on the bank of Laldighi, an ancient water body located in the heart of Jessore town, were demolished yesterday.
Jessore Pourasava (municipality) authorities with the help of district administration, police and Rab conducted the drive from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
Earlier, the municipality authorities had decided to fill up Laldighi for constructing a market there, ignoring the residents' demand for saving the important water body.
Several political, social and cultural organisations including Workers Party, NAP, Gono Forum, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote and Sangbadpatra Parishad formed human chains on a few occasions protesting the move to fill up the water body.
Moksimul Bari Apu, a councillor of Jessore Pourasava said, "We have cancelled our earlier plan to construct a market there, showing respect to the demand of the townspeople."
Nazir Ahmed, executive engineer of the municipality, said illegal structures were built, encroaching upon the water body. Notice was earlier served on the owners of these structures to vacate the land by June 7, but they failed to comply with the order, he added.
Restaurant owner Abdul Hannan said, "We have been running our business on this land for long by taking lease from the pourasava authorities. But the pourasava has demolished our shop, breaching the agreement."
Khandaker Firoz Iliyas, secretary of Jessore Pourasava, said the authorities will not lease any land around Laldighi in the future.
In 1864, authorities under the then British government arranged digging several water bodies including Laldighi in Jessore town to meet people's need for water.