The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) removed on Wednesday 20,000-cubic metre earth allegedly filled by a private housing company in the capital's Basila area.
The state entity started on Tuesday the fifth phase of the demolition drive.
It used three excavators to remove earth filled by Amin Momin Housing Company at Basila.
The BIWTA began its drive last month to check encroachments on the Buriganga to restore its original channel and navigability, and rid it of pollution.
It ended four phases of drives from January to February and demolished structures on the banks of the river.
A high official of the BIWTA under shipping ministry said they would remove earth filled by any vested group on the river banks.
The drive will continue until full demolition of the structures illegally built on the Buriganga, the lifeline for Dhaka city, he told the FE.
The BIWTA will soon launch a drive from Darussalam to Chandima Garden City (Mohammadpur) to Gabtoli area.
The first phase started from January 29-31, the second from February 06-08, the third from February 12-14 and the fourth from February 18-20.
As of March 05, the BIWTA demolished 1,809 structures at Basila, Kamrangirchar, Sadarghat and some other parts of the city.
The agency has taken a Tk 8.48-billion project to build 19 jetties in areas like Aminbazar, Gabtoli, Kanchpur, Tanbazar, Machuwabazar and Khanpur.
The authorities would also build a 50-kilometre walkway, plant saplings along the path and set up three eco-parks at Shinnirtek, Tongi and Ashulia.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com