Since the July uprising and the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League regime on August 5, a wave of encroachment has begun in Dhaka city.
Encroachers have spared nothing – from sidewalks to footbridges, the spaces under flyovers, canal boundaries, riverbanks, parks and even public toilets.
Land reclaimed by Dhaka’s two city corporations has also been reoccupied, with a senior official saying regular eviction drives against encroachers are hindered by limited police availability and operational challenges.
Residents are now questioning: Who will put an end to this rampant encroachment across the city?
An investigation by this correspondent revealed that individuals affiliated with the BNP and its associate organizations are involved in this encroachment spree. They began asserting control following the political upheaval in August.
With the two city corporations seemingly taking a somewhat passive stance against these encroachments, experts cite administrative negligence, lack of oversight and weak governance as the reasons behind the seizure of public property, emphasizing the urgent need for action to hold out against these encroachers.
Parks turned into restaurants
Although officially known as Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah Park, locals refer to the park in the Naya Bazar area as Jinda Bahar Park. Situated in Ward 32 of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), this historic park was renovated with a costly – around Tk1 crore – project to enhance its beauty. However, it has now turned into a garbage dump. Adding to the woes, encroachers have constructed a restaurant on the park’s premises.
During a recent visit, this correspondent observed that a small coffee shop, initially leased by the DSCC, had been hastily expanded post-government transition to establish a restaurant, reducing the park’s usable space significantly.
Locals reported a surge in extortionists and encroachers in the area since August 5.
Shaukat Ali, a resident of Naya Bazar, said: “Since Hasina left, not just the park, but various places here have been taken over. Sidewalks and most vacant spaces are now occupied. Part of the park, the only place for us to walk, has been turned into a restaurant. There is no one to stop them.”
Though no one directly involved with the restaurant was willing to speak, an investigation revealed that a local named Sabbir, claiming to be a Jubo Dal leader, was behind the encroachment.
When approached, a restaurant staff member, on condition of anonymity, said: “He is a Jubo Dal leader. Be careful about what you write. We set up this restaurant with permission.”
Public toilets taken over
The lone public toilet at Shahid Buddhijibi Khalek Sardar Park in Sikkatuli under Ward 33 has also been occupied.
Locals in Sikkatuli said the panchayat committee, a local council, had kept the toilet locked for their exclusive use since the park's inauguration.
Initially controlled by committee members affiliated with the Awami League, the facility was now under the BNP-aligned members following the change in government, they added.
This pattern is not limited to one park. Public toilets in several parks under the DSCC, including Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah Park and Sayeed Khokon Park, have similarly been seized.
Reportedly, the individuals who constructed the restaurant on the land of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah Park are also occupying the public toilet there. Previously, the toilet was used as a storage room for the restaurant, but it is now exclusively used by the restaurant staff.
Land reoccupied
Land reclaimed by the DSCC during eviction drives has also fallen back into the hands of encroachers.
For example, the city corporation recovered land near Kabi Nazrul Government College earlier this year. However, following the political transition, BNP activists, including a leader named Rintu, reportedly took over the space.
When approached, Rintu, formerly president of the Chhatra Dal’s Kabi Nazrul Government College unit and now a Swechhasebak Dal leader, denied the allegations. “This is false. Neither I nor my associates are involved.”
Sidewalks, flyovers and footbridges occupied
Encroachment is rampant across sidewalks, flyovers and overpasses in the capital, sparing only a few areas.
Previously dominated by Awami League leaders, these spaces are now controlled by BNP-affiliated individuals and their followers. Sidewalks in Gulistan, Paltan, Badda and Sadarghat, as well as overpasses and spaces under flyovers, are now occupied by temporary shops.
Local leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliate organizations have reportedly occupied footpaths, overbridges and spaces beneath flyovers to set up shops.
The same “linemen” who used to collect money from encroachments on footpaths in the past continue to do so now. However, they refrained from disclosing under whose supervision they were currently operating.
One of them, Sattar Mia, regularly collects money from footpaths in Puran Dhaka. He held this position even during the Awami League's tenure and collected money from the makeshift shops.
While he avoided directly stating whose directives he now followed, he mentioned that the power belonged to “those in charge now," saying he acted under the instructions of those who had installed the vendors.
Investigations revealed that ward-level BNP leaders and activists are directly involved in this. However, none of the individuals associated with this activity were willing to admit their involvement.
Canals
Encroachment has led to the disappearance of many canals in the capital, leaving some as mere remnants.
In several areas, the natural water flow has been obstructed. Even the few canals that still have a semblance of water flow are at risk of being occupied.
Illegal establishments, including shops, have already been constructed on canal land.
On-site investigations revealed that parts of Ramchandrapur Canal under the jurisdiction of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) have been occupied.
Allegations have surfaced that local BNP leaders and activists from Mohammadpur have seized portions of this canal. They have reportedly constructed tin-shed houses and permanent structures made of bricks, sand and cement.
A truck stand has also been established on the canal’s land under the banner of the “Inter-District Drivers’ Association.”
Reportedly, the encroachment of the Ramchandrapur Canal occurred under the directives of Nurul Islam, senior joint general secretary of the BNP’s Ward 33 unit.
This allegedly led to disputes with the ward BNP president.
Initially, a banner of “Sat Masjid Housing Unit” was displayed, but the area now houses tea stalls, pucca houses, rickshaw garages and a truck stand.
Apart from the Ramchandrapur Canal, large portions of the Sutivola Canal under the DNCC’s jurisdiction have also been occupied by locals. Illegal structures have been constructed along the Sutivola Canal near Satarkul in recent years.
After the ouster of the erstwhile government in the July uprising, many previous encroachers disappeared, only for other influential locals to assume control.
Additionally, new shops have been built on the Kazla Canal under the DSCC. Previously controlled by Awami League activists, this area is reportedly now under the supervision of ward-level Jubo Dal activists.
What does BNP say?
Meanwhile, BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu promised organizational action against anyone from the party and its affiliates found involved in encroachment.
“We have not spared anyone who tarnished the image of the party in the past. Those involved in encroachment or extortion are not part of the BNP family; they are opportunists and enemies of the organization. If anyone from the party is found involved, we will take immediate organizational action against them.”
He continued: “We have clearly communicated to law enforcement agencies to take action against anyone involved in such activities. Some newspapers are tarnishing the BNP’s reputation by linking minor extortion incidents involving Tk2,000-Tk5,000 to the party.
“They did the same during the 1/11 era. Their objective is to demean the BNP. Meanwhile, large institutions, banks and clinics are being encroached upon, but no one writes about those.”
Statement from authorities
Regarding the recovery of occupied canal land, DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mir Khairul Alam said it was not enough to simply recover the canals.
“We have extensive plans. Once recovered, we will implement projects including walkways, tree planting and boat navigation in the canals.”
Talking about the recovery of parks, public toilets and city corporation land, DSCC Chief Estate Officer Kizer Mohammad Farabi said: “We regularly attempt eviction drives against encroachers. However, law enforcement is not yet fully operational. Police force availability is limited.”
“We had planned an eviction drive in Dhanmondi today and notified the magistrate, but the local police station informed us of a shortage of police personnel,” he added.
When asked when the city corporation’s encroached lands would be recovered, Farabi said it was difficult to say for certain, adding that various factors were preventing the DSCC from conducting regular eviction drives as it had before.
“The more dynamic law enforcement becomes and as soon as police are fully available, we will resume eviction drives.”