CorrespondentKeraniganj, Dhaka
BIWTA carries out an eviction drive on banks of Buriganga river on Sunday Prothom Alo
Officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) carried out an eviction drive today, Sunday, removing illegal structures along the banks of the Buriganga river at Modhyer Char Kheyaghat area of Keraniganj. A signboard put up by the son of Dhaka-7 member of parliament Haji Salim on grabbed land, was also demolished at the time.
The eviction drive began at 12:00 noon on Sunday at the Modhyer Char Kheyaghat in Keraniganj, with the demolition of an illegal building erected by Nurul Islam on the banks of Buriganga. The eviction drive was led by BIWTA executive magistrate Mahbub Jamil.
Grabbing Buriganga: MP Aslamul seeks SC order to avoid eviction
Satellite images show how structures were constructed after filling up parts of the Buriganga river and wetland over the years along the Basila bridge in the capital. Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Water Resources Staff Correspondent Staff Correspondent
Awami League lawmaker Aslamul Haque, also the owner of Maisha Group, has filed a petition with the Supreme Court s Appellate Division seeking to stay a High Court verdict that allowed the authorities to conduct eviction drives and recover the land of the Buriganga from the possession of three companies of his group.
He submitted the petition to the apex court last week, his lawyer Mohammad Ozi Ullah told The Daily Star yesterday.
Citing the stay petition, the lawyer said Aslamul Haque s companies have obtained all relevant clearance certificates required for establishing industries, and they have not grabbed land of any river.
In addition to submitting the stay petition to the Appellate Division, Aslamul Haque has also lodged cases with the civil courts, seeking remedy on the same issue, he said.
Lawyer Ozi Ullah could not say specifically when the hearing of the stay petition will be held.
Meanwhile, the National River Conservation Commission s (NRCC) lawyer Manzill Murshid told this correspondent that he received a copy of the petition filed by Aslamul Haque on December 12, challenging the HC verdict.