MASSIVE eviction drives against illegal grabbers of river banks in different districts across the country have been going on in full swing. To reclaim the rivers from the clutch of illegal occupants and polluters, the drive is a first massive one. The good intention of the government should be achieved despite threats from local political goons, illegal sand lifters, and river grabbers. To give the country’s river system a life, to lessen climate-change impacts, river erosion, sedimentation in the riverbed and overall enliven the river-based economic activities, the eviction drives hopefully would bring positive results. The government has no way to oust the illegal river grabbers and make the river pollution-free to achieve the Delta Plan 2100, Paris Climate Agreement and the SDG.
News media reported that Pabna District Administration in cooperation with the Water Development Board (WDB) has started the long-awaited eviction drive-in ‘Puraton Bridge’ area of the district town. All the illegal structures beside the Ichhamoti River in Pabna town have already been marked with the red signs and the drive is meant for freeing river from illegal occupiers. In Cumilla, the District Authorities demolished 139 illegal structures on both sides of the Gumti river on Monday. Meanwhile, WDB demolished 109 illegal structures in the 8.5-kilometre canal area in Pirojpur. In Patuakhali, WDB with the help of District Administration and law enforcers demolished 28 illegal structures at Hetalia Badghat Bazar on Patuakhali-Kuakata road. In Moulvibazar, the authorities removed nine illegal establishments at Barapara in Sadar Upazila of Sunamganj, as part of a drive, to remove illegal establishments along the rivers, canals, streams, haors and other water bodies in the district.
Eviction is an old fashioned move to get back the river lands, but not a sustainable one. Most of the rivers, haors and water bodies have been grabbed and polluted by the influential persons who keep close link with the government high-ups. This time, we want to see an end of the unethical patronisation to illegal grabbers.
News media reported that Pabna District Administration in cooperation with the Water Development Board (WDB) has started the long-awaited eviction drive-in ‘Puraton Bridge’ area of the district town. All the illegal structures beside the Ichhamoti River in Pabna town have already been marked with the red signs and the drive is meant for freeing river from illegal occupiers. In Cumilla, the District Authorities demolished 139 illegal structures on both sides of the Gumti river on Monday. Meanwhile, WDB demolished 109 illegal structures in the 8.5-kilometre canal area in Pirojpur. In Patuakhali, WDB with the help of District Administration and law enforcers demolished 28 illegal structures at Hetalia Badghat Bazar on Patuakhali-Kuakata road. In Moulvibazar, the authorities removed nine illegal establishments at Barapara in Sadar Upazila of Sunamganj, as part of a drive, to remove illegal establishments along the rivers, canals, streams, haors and other water bodies in the district.
Eviction is an old fashioned move to get back the river lands, but not a sustainable one. Most of the rivers, haors and water bodies have been grabbed and polluted by the influential persons who keep close link with the government high-ups. This time, we want to see an end of the unethical patronisation to illegal grabbers.
