Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, June 25: Chittagong district administration started Wednesday eviction and demolition of illegal houses raised by illegal land-grabbers along the Moti Jharna and Batali Hills.
Officials of different government agencies concerned and Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), headed by additional deputy commissioner (revenue) of Chittagong Abdul Kader, started the eviction drive at 10.00 am Wednesday.
On the first day they evicted 42 houses, raised by Jafar and Nasir, at the hill pockets of Tanki Pahar at Moti Jharna under Lalkhan Bazar.
As the people living in those houses vacated those earlier, the workers employed by district administration started demolishing the houses in presence of the law-enforcers, so that the residents cannot return there to stay.
Officials of the district administration, Chittagong City Corporation, Chittagong WASA, Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Co Ltd, Power Development Board and Public Works Department (PWD) were present at that time.
AC of CMP Panchlaish Zone Dipak Jyoti Khisa, AC (Land) of Sadar Samiul Masud, AC (Land) of Chandgaon AKM Rezaur Rahman and AC (Land) of Agrabad Shammi Akhtar were also present.
ADC Abdul Kader said the administration has listed 666 families, illegally residing at the hill pockets in the port city. Of them 320 families are residing in the Moti Jharna and Batali Hills.
A decision has been taken to demolish all those houses before the beginning of Ramadan. Arrangement has also been made to provide those people temporary shelter at different places in the port city.
Some residents alleged that they were not notified that eviction drive would be conducted Wednesday.
But Mr Kader trashed the allegation, and said all the families and house owners at the hill pockets were notified earlier after holding meetings with the local representatives.
They were warned time and again and told to leave those houses along with their furniture and utensils till this morning, he added.