Drive to save Karnaphuli yet to restart

CHATTOGRAM, Mar 30: The drive to demolish all 2,181 establishments illegally built on the banks of the Karnaphuli is yet to resume.

The Chattogram district administration conducted the drive from February 04 to 09.

Sources said upon assurances from land minister Saifujjaman Chowdhury Javed for allocation of funds, the authorities launched the drive.

An emergency meeting at the office of deputy commissioner (DC) Mohammed Ilias Hossain on January 31 decided to remove the structures from the river banks.

Later on February 04, they started the drive which continued till February 09.

But the drive was suspended for more preparations.

Bangladesh Environment Forum general secretary Aliur Rahman said, "It's unfortunate that the drive is suspended for unknown reasons. We demand the drive to start as soon as possible."

Environmentalist Prof Dr Idris Ali also made the same demand for continuation of the drive to tear down all establishments illegally built on the Karnaphuli.

Meanwhile, Swampan Majhi Kalyan Samity held a rally at Sadarghat on Saturday morning, demanding resumption of the drive to save the Karnaphuli.

DC Hossain said, "We tried to dismantle all illegal strictures on the Karnaphuli as per the High Court's directive. But the process halted for a lack of funds."

nazim07@yahoo.com