The government has taken a decision to launch mobile courts across the country to recover rivers from illegal occupants. The operation of mobile courts will start shortly.
The taskforce on protecting rivers took the decision at its regular meeting held at the shipping ministry conference room yesterday the chief Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan in the chair.
Committee members Law Minister Anisul Haque, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Housing Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Food Minister Kamrul Islam, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mojammel Haque and Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif, and State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu and Lalbag-Kamrangirchar’s MP Haji Muhammad Selim, among other, attended the meeting.
Shahjahan Khan said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority led by a magistrate, would launch a mobile court which will take immediate action against encroachers.
Regarding the presence of Selim, one of the primary accused in building structures after grabbing river, Shajahan Khan said, “He was invited to the meeting because of the allegations against him. We have requested the MP to remove the structures he built on river and sought his help to remove other structures as well.
“He has pledged to remove his structures from river and help us in removing the structures built by others.”
“No one will be spared if found guilty, whoever he may be,” the minister said.
“We have decided to operate mobile courts in eviction drives. This enables us to take immediate actions against illegal occupants,” he said.
Regarding recovery of the Buriganga’s main channel, the taskforce chief said, the committee formed recover it will meet tomorrow [today].The sub-committee formed to create public awareness led by reserved seat MP Sanzida Khanam will also start its activities shortly.
The taskforce also instructed the authorities concerned to complete the removal of the ‘Saiham Future Complex’ from the Sonai River of Habiganj.