PWD evicts 300 families for illegal occupation of eight buildings

FE Report The Public Works Department (PWD) in a drive on Wednesday against illegal occupants evicted some 300 families from eight buildings which were earlier declared unfit for habitation, in the capital's Motijheel area. The government abandoned the buildings in 2005 at Motijheel colony as those became dilapidated and risky for the residents. But people of the low-income group occupying the buildings had been residing there for a long time ignoring the government order, amid great concern of the city planners who feared that the concrete-made structures might collapse at any time causing loss of many lives. "The buildings were declared abandoned six years ago. But several hundred families had been living there illegally risking their lives," PWD executive engineer Ishtiak Ahmed told the FE. He said they launched the drive after prior notice to the residents. "At least 300 families had been residing there," he said, adding that some 29 families of government employees were also legally living in two of the buildings, which were beyond the purview of the action. The engineer said the government has a plan to make four multi-storied buildings in the place so that people could live without any fear or risk. The drive was launched at about 10:00am with the help of law enforcers. The residents, however, protested the move, saying that they have been living there by paying Tk 1,000-Tk 4,500 a month as rent to a union leader. "It's a very inhuman attitude of the government as we don't have any other alternative but to stay on footpath," a protester said.