BR demolishes 400 structures at Shahjahanpur Railway Colony

The Bangladesh Railway (BR) authorities on the second day of their eviction drive on Wednesday pulled down more than 400 illegal structures at the city's Shahjahanpur Railway Colony.

The railway authorities launched the drive on the previous day to free its land from illegal occupation.

The demolished structures include houses, grocery shops and political parties' offices, BR estate officer at Kamalapur Nazrul Islam told the FE.

Besides, over 100 acres of land of the Bangladesh Railway have been retrieved during the last nine months, he added, saying their drive was being conducted simultaneously in Dhaka, Sylhet and Mymensingh.

He reiterated the BR's firm stance to free railway land from illegal occupation across the country including the capital Dhaka, and to create recreation spots and playgrounds for children there.

The drive might be conducted at the colony further next week upon requirement, the official added, saying some 1,300 illegal structures are there at the colony.

The drive was launched following a notice served three days earlier.

Most of the people were living in the slum there defying the notice, BR officials said on the spot.

Locals told the FE that about 100,000 people had been living at the colony divided into about 15 separate middle-sized slums. In 2001 and 2008, such massive drives were foiled by the slum dwellers, said locals.

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