The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) demolished on Wednesday a total of 61 illegally built structures on the banks of the River Buriganga.
The structures pulled down during the drive in Hasnabad, Doleswhar Ghat, Ghat and Pagla area of Narayanganj include one two-storey building, six one-storey buildings, 23 semi-paucca buildings and 31 tin-shed houses.
The BIWTA also auctioned confiscated goods worth over Tk 8.8 million and fined two persons Tk 0.2 million for their attempt to resist the eviction drive.
It also reclaimed 3.5 acres of land from illegal possession of grabbers.
The BIWTA on Tuesday also razed a total of 44 illegally built structures on the banks of the river at Postogola and Doleswhar Ghat.
Of the structures, one was seven-storey building, five one-storey buildings, 17 semi-paucca buildings and 21 tin-shed houses.
They authority also reclaimed three acres of land form illegal occupation, auctioned confiscated goods worth Tk 7.8 million and realised Tk 0.25million in fine.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), which is under the Ministry of Shipping (MoS), following instructions of the government carried out the first phase of drive from January 29 to February 20.
After a short break, it restarted the drive from the current month to remove illegal structures along the banks of the Buriganga.
So far, during the ongoing drive from January 29 until April 4, 2019), it knocked down 3,575 illegal structures and reclaimed 91 acres of land from the banks of the Buriganga and Turag rivers.
The rivers Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakshya are called the lifelines of the capital.
But grabbing, pollution, dredging and erosion have kept the existence of the rivers at stake.
BIWTA will construct 110-kilometre walkways on the recovered lands of the Buriganga and Turag.
The MoS has taken a number of projects to give new lease of life to the country's several rivers whose existence is at risk.
Of them, 12 projects are going on to dredge 8,000 kilometre waterways of 178 rivers.
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