A group of sand traders and land grabbers are, in an effort to grab the river Turag, ignoring the High Court order and capitalising on the faulty demarcation of the water body.
The encroachers are stacking sand and raising illegal establishments in the river area.
Markets, permanent and makeshift shops, rickshaw garages, restaurants, mosque and crematorium are being constructed inside the river demarcation pillars while the local residents are dumping solid waste, all contributing to the contraction of the water body.
Dr Md Samsuddoha Khandaker, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have been informed about the continuous encroachment upon the river Turag.”
A meeting on Sunday was held in the Ministry of Shipping to save the river from grabbers, he added.
“The grabbing of the river goes on unabated on its both sides at different parts between Mirpur and Aminbazar.”
The demarcation pillars were installed in the heart of the water body, applying wrong process, he regretted, adding that a further demarcation would be done as per the decision of the meeting.
A joint committee of the Dhaka deputy commissioner office and BIWTA demarcated the river area and set up pillars, leaving a large area on both sides of the Turag.
The river was originally 1,500 feet wide which had now taken the shape of a canal because of continuous encroachment.
Samsuddoha Khandaker maintained that the ministry recommended demarcation of the river based on two types of map known as CS and RS.
The BIWTA chairman vowed that action would be taken against those grabbing the river and polluting the water body by dumping waste.
“The area pillars will be re-installed, and we will take strong measures to reclaim the river immediately,” he added.
A visit to the different areas of Gabtoli, Borobazar, Kotbari, Harirampur, Jahanabad, Golartek, Lalpara, Diabari, Sinnirtek, Jagannatbad, Nobaberbagh, Nagarbari – eastern part of the river adjacent to the city’s Mirpur – and Eskabed, Golbari, Knundia, Begsatra – western side of the river under Harirampur union, revealed that the grabbers built different establishments according to their own sweet will.
Besides, sand-loaded trucks remain parked on both sides of the embankment-cum road built on the river bank, causing disruption to smooth traffic movement from Mirpur to Ashulia.
More than 20 sand traders run their business in the area, with blessings from the lawmen and local political leaders.
In November 2012, the HC directed the government to stop sand trading on the banks of the city’s rivers.
The court ordered the authorities to shut down the sand markets on the bank of Turag and submit a compliance report within four weeks.
Apart from the order, the HC, on June 25, 2009, also directed the BIWTA to protect four rivers – Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakhya – from encroachment and pollution.
Alamgir Hossain, a resident of Jahanabad, said: “Several influential land grabbers, including the ruling party leaders, are in an effort to grab the river by building settlements and shops and by dumping sand.”
“Several government authorities, including the former caretaker government, failed to free the river bank, he said, adding that when a mobile team goes into action to demolish the illegal establishments, the grabbers use political backing to resist the drive.”
Sand traders – Jahirul, Ripon, Afzalur and some others – are said to have been running sand business occupying the river bed.
Contacted, Ripon said: “We are running business in our own land, not in the river area. So none can take action against us.”
Other traders refused to talk to the media. Apart from the grabbing of Turag, domestic and Industrial waste from drain and sewerage contribute to the river water pollution and emitting a foul smell, thus putting an impact on the environment.
