National Housing Authority (NHA) demolished illegal structures on the land of a waqf estate at Duaripara in Mirpur yesterday, rendering over 15,000 families homeless.
The NHA officials with more than 200 workers led by a magistrate demolished the establishments with bulldozers. Over 100 policemen were also deployed during the drive to ward off any untoward incidents.
As the bulldozers knocked down the houses, family members burst into tears.
Shah Alam Miah, president of Duaripara Bohumukhi Samabaya Samity, who had been living in the area for 22 years, said, "We have been living here taking up a 99-year lease with the permission from the religious affairs ministry. But in 1993, the NHA claimed its ownership and since then a case has been pending."
NHA officials said the people of the area had been residing there illegally with fake documents.