Demolition of illegal structures continues

A joint team of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) and Dhaka district administration continued demolishing illegal structures on Kalyanpur Gha Khal (canal) for the second day yesterday.
Around 80 day-labourers and 50 police personnel took part in the second day drive to recover the 1.25km long canal stretching from Shewrapara to Janata Housing in West Agargaon.
The joint team was led by Wasa Executive Magistrate Kazi Wasiuddin and Dhaka district administration Executive Magistrate Mohammad Al Amin.
Mohammad Al Amin said, "We have continued the demolition of the illegal portions of three buildings -- a two-storey, a three-storey, and a five-storey -- yesterday".
Sources said the five-storey building was of a joint secretary of a ministry who requested for more time, but the magistrates did not give the time.
Ruhul Amin, executive engineer of Wasa, said, "We will demolish 37 illegal structures from the canal area, which were constructed illegally over the years". The drive will continue on Wednesday (today) to demolish the rest of the structures.
Dhaka Wasa in its first day drive on Monday demolished 20 structures including a one-storey structure owned by an assistant superintendent of police (ASP).
After completing the drive, the Wasa will build a walkway on the both sides of the canal at a cost of around Tk 50 lakh, said a Wasa official.