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EVICTION-CITY-RIVERS
12,396 illegal structures evicted from three Dhaka rivers, Khalid tells JS
SANGSAD BHABAN, June 23, 2019 (BSS) – State Minister for Shipping
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury today informed the Jatiya Sangsad that the
government has so far evicted about 12,396 illegal structures from the port
areas of three rivers surrounding Dhaka – Buriganga, Turag and Balu.
“About 12,396 illegal structures have already been removed from port areas
of the banks of Buriganga, Turag and Balu rivers and 372.12 acres of
riverbank grabbed earlier were recovered,” he said while responding to a tabled
question placed by ruling party lawmaker Md Israfil Alam (Noagaon-6).
Khalid said the government has also evicted 2,779 illegal structures from the
port area of Shitalakhya River, while 194 acres of occupied riverbank were
recovered.
As per the election manifesto of the government, he said, it has also evicted
about 4,000 illegal structures and recovered 600 acres of the occupied river
areas aiming to develop river routes and restore the environment in four rivers
surrounding Dhaka – Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakhya.
Apart from creating forestation and setting up eco-parks and walkways on the
recovered land and installing permanent boundary pillars in rivers, the
government has taken a mega plan to dredge the country’s rivers, the state
minister said.
Once the project is implemented, Khalid said, passenger-friendly river routes
will be created in the country and the nature of the rivers will be restored.
BSS/MRI/QC/1627 hrs