In a recent drive, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (WDB), with support from the district administration, police, Bangladesh Army, and other relevant agencies, reclaimed nearly 100 acres of illegally occupied government land along the Mirpur embankment in Dhaka.
According to WDB officials, the daylong eviction drive on Wednesday—supervised by an executive magistrate—focused on removing unauthorized structures built on government-acquired land designated for Dhaka's western flood management embankment.
On the first day, the eviction drive covered more than 4 kilometers of the embankment, from the Goranchatbari point to near the Panchabati area.
Several illegal commercial establishments were demolished during the operation, including those run by Maisha Construction Ltd, Karim Ready Mix, ABC Ready Mix, Shell, Sadi Filling Station, Jack Bangladesh, Path Builders, Amin Mohammad Group, Dhaka Boat Club, Turag Recreation Center, and NDE Ready Mix Plant-2.
Additionally, numerous illegal shops and makeshift structures in the Birulia embankment area were cleared.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday, Dewan Ainul Haque, superintending engineer of the Water Development Board (Dhaka Circle-1), said that they had launched the drive to remove all unauthorized and illegal structures erected on embankment land, and that the eviction campaign would continue with full force until the area is completely cleared.
The Dhaka western flood management embankment is a 30.2-kilometer-long structure built after the devastating flood of 1988. It spans from Old Dhaka to Uttara Abdullahpur, covering a significant area.
The embankment runs through Shyampur, Dholai Khal, Lalbagh, Kamrangirchar, Hazaribagh, Mohammadpur, Adabor, Kallyanpur, Shah Ali, Digun Khal, Turag, Tongi Khal, and Uttara Abdullahpur.
Another WDB official informed this newspaper that the initial phase of the drive will operate from Digun Khal to the Gabtoli area, with further operations to follow in phases.
The WDB expects that once the drive is completed, more than 1,000 acres of land will be reclaimed from illegal encroachers. On the first day alone, over 100 acres were recovered.
However, there are limitations. The WDB requires the presence of an executive magistrate from the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner’s office and striking forces such as the Army and police to carry out these drives, as the agency lacks such resources itself.
To execute eviction drives of this nature, the WDB must usually wait for the availability of the magistrate and the supporting forces.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune Friday afternoon, AQM Mahbub, former professor of the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Dhaka, noted that such eviction drives are common during transitional periods in the country. However, he emphasized that the government needs a comprehensive plan to ensure their effectiveness.
“Usually what we see is that the infrastructure of one political party’s supporter is demolished, only for supporters of another party to occupy the land afterward. We need political will from all parties, and our bureaucrats must act with integrity to make these drives truly effective,” he added.
Professor Mahbub also stressed the need for a proper strategy to prevent reoccupation of cleared land.
“In a densely populated city like Dhaka, people will quickly seize barren land if it remains idle next to roads. What we need is to utilize those lands in a way that prevents reoccupation. The government could use them for tree plantations, build passenger sheds, or develop other commuter-friendly infrastructure. There’s a saying: ‘Half done is nothing.’ The authorities must see it through to completion,” he said.
Since taking office on August 8 last year, the interim government led by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has launched a coordinated effort—beginning in February—to revive 19 key canals in Dhaka and reclaim other government lands across the country.
Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Housing, Public Works, and Industry Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, and Local Government, Rural Development, Cooperatives, and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sojib Bhuiyan have been actively involved in the initiative.
