Authorities have started demolishing illegal structures on the banks of Sowai River as part of a project to restore the river that used to flow through Mymensingh and Netrokona.
Following the eviction drive, they will resume the excavation work on the river to bring back the navigability.
On April 20, the dredging on 46km-stretch of the river was suspended on Kashiganj Bazar to Satpai village section of the river. The dredging operation ended close to an abandoned brick kiln near Shyamgonj Bazar. Authorities said that the dredging was suspended to give time for a land survey and to settle objections raised by Tilak Kumar Roy Tulu and several other businessmen.
The navigability of the river has been in decline for decades due to lack of initiatives for dredging. To solve the problem, the government undertook various measures, including excavation of the river.
Earlier, Netrokona Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md Sarwar Jahan had said that a person has claimed ownership of a large portion of land within the excavation area. Therefore, they had to survey to verify the ownership of the land.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh Mahfuz Masum said: “The government is determined to protect the river. Everyone is working sincerely to protect the navigability of all rivers and canals in the district.”