Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) in a drive evicted illegal establishments surrounding Habiganj Fort, maintained by the department of archeology.
The eviction process started Thursday morning and NCC knocked down about 12 illegally built warehouses of companies such as Rocky Print, Rasel Washing, Anowar and Brothers, Nilima Cotton, Bright Packaging, Sonali, Bismillah and Ashraf Packaging.
Rakhi Roy, regional director of the Department of Archaeology, Deputy Director Lovely Yasmin, Hasan Bin Muhammad Ali, executive magistrate of the district administration, NCC Hygiene Officer Abul Hosain, NCC Market Officer Jahirul Islam along with other NCC officials, law enforcement officials, Habiganj Fire Service and Civil Defence members were present during the eviction drive.
Hasan Bin Muhammad Ali said: "The High Court ordered the archeology department, district administration, city corporation and a few other departments to carry out the eviction."
Rakhi Ray said: "We are here to make sure that the The Habiganj Fort comes under no harm."
Nurul Islam Chowdhury, one of the owners of “Anowar and Brothers” claimed that they were unaware of any eviction.
He said: "A writ petition has been filed for about 782 katha of the land here [Narayanganj] and we the warehouse owners have bought it from the Bangladesh Jute Corporation (BJC).
"All the payments have been cleared. There is an ongoing case in High Court regarding ownership. But today, officials from various departments suddenly came and evicted around 12 warehouses."
The Chashara-Shimrail road came to a standstill during the eviction. Although passersby had to face inconveniences, they appreciated the effort.
According to locals, the area had become a breeding ground for drug addicts and criminals.
They also said: "Habiganj Fort is withering away in despair. People avoid this place fearing their safety. If the area is a little cleaner and organized, people from far away will come to visit the fort."
Habiganj Fort is situated on the West bank of Shitalakkha River and was built during the Mughal period. It is also known as Khijirpur Fort.
