The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Barisal has demolished 30 illegal structures, including a market owned by the former army officer Ziaul Ahsan, which were built on government land illegally occupied.
The RHD conducted the operation in the Rupatali area of the city, along the Dhaka-Kuakata Highway at the Zero Point intersection.
Bulldozers were used to demolish the illegal structures from both sides of the road.
Executive Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department, Nazmul Islam, said that over 500 shops and structures were illegally built along both sides of the road from Zero Point to Sagar Dheer Pool.
“We have started a drive to recover the occupied land. Notices and announcements were made, requesting people to remove their structures. Those who failed to comply are now having their properties demolished."
Meanwhile, some of the property owners claimed they had legal documentation for the land on which their structures were built.
Some also mentioned that they had rented shops in the market and are now facing financial losses.
The operation was assisted by the Executive Engineer of the Barisal Roads and Highways Department, an executive magistrate, local police, and a team from the Fire Service.
Former Major General Ziaul Ahsan, who recently retired from the army, owns one of the demolished markets.
He is currently in prison in connection with the abduction and disappearance of a security guard of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Ziaul Ahsan had served as an additional director general at the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) until his retirement on December 7, 2013.
