Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) with the help of Bangladesh Army, as part of their eviction drive knocked down at least 40 illegal structures near Birja canal in Chittagong city on Wednesday.
CDA Special Magistrate Saiful Alam Chowdhury led the eviction drive.
CDA Executive Engineer and Project Director Ahmed Moinuddin said, "We have reclaimed two kilometres of land after demolishing at least 40 illegal establishments including three five-storey buildings built along Birja canal.”
"There are 1,576 illegal structures on 13 canals. Initially, 866 structures will be demolished that will allow water to flow without obstruction. Later, the rest 710 will be destroyed, and roads will be constructed beside the canals," he said.
A survey conducted by the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), revealed that 123 acres of land, covering 13 major canals in the port city have been occupied over the years, and more than 1,500 illegal structures were built which has been obstructing the free flow of water, causing waterlogging.
Concrete buildings, shanties, tin-roofed houses, graveyards, and crematoriums have been built after occupying the land illegally, CDA sources said.
There are 57 recorded canals in the city, which are homes to six million people.
Around one-third of Chittagong district goes under water during the monsoon every year, while the southern part of the coastal city gets flooded during high tides, even when there is no rain.
