Mohiuddin Jewel, Chattogram
Despite the strict directives of the High Court (HC), the illegal structures and establishments around the Karnaphuli river have not yet been evicted, while there is a violent competition for new possession.
People of different classes and professions including leaders, workers of political parties and businessmen are involved in the illegal occupation.
The Chittagong port authorities have also played a role by illegally leasing the river land.
The width of the Karnaphuli river has been declining for the last 30 years due to various reasons including continued occupation, construction of infrastructures and poly bag layer.
When contacted, Mominur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Chattogram told Bangladesh Post that the eviction of illegal establishments on the banks of Karnaphuli was temporarily halted due to the Covid-19 situation.
``Eviction activities will resume very soon. The Ministry of Local Government has instructed us in this regard,” he added.
According to the local sources, the eviction drive was halted due to corona situation. Occupying both sides of the river, influential people are building houses, business establishments, rice mills, markets and other establishments.
In the middle of the river in Bakalia side, a new truck terminal has been built by filling the river along fish landing center. The Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) has illegally given leases including the Fish Warehouse.
From the west side of Chaktai Canal to Firingibazar, the Mariners Park has been completely occupied by the encroachers. Some 147 acres of the area is identified as the Karnaphuli river, which was filled and encroached to make fish markets and slums.
A market, known as sheep market, has also been illegally established by occupying a 12-meter river near the Karnaphuli Bridge, while there are over five hundred illegal installations.
Not only that a man named Abu Tayab was stabbed to death in connection with the occupation in October, 2020. Police arrested Aktar Hosen, a terrorist and six others in connection with this incident.
Mohammad Hossain, a businessman of Fishery Ghat area of Karnaphuli told Bangladesh Post that the people here are unhappy with the misdeeds of the terrorists.
``There are at least 10 terrorists who are occupying the land of the river and carrying out various criminal activities. Some of them are Farid, Sattar, Nurul Amin, Abu Tayab, Aziz and Kabir,” he added.
When contacted, Bakshirhat ward Awami League president Nurul Amin said, “I bought a piece of land there. However, some portions of that land are on the eviction list.”
Bijoy Basak, Deputy Commissioner (South), Chittagong Metropolitan Police, told Bangladesh Post that police are on the ground to arrest all the occupants and extortionists in Karnaphuli area.
“But it is better to have an integrated taskforce. We are investigating further,” he added.
According to the concerned sources, the High Court directed the Chittagong Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and AC land to demolish all illegal structures on both sides of the Karnaphuli River in August 2016.
The district administration submitted the list of 2,112 illegal establishments to the court. But everything remains on paper.
Aliur Rahman, General Secretary of Chittagong River and Canal Protection Movement Committee told Bangladesh Post that four government agencies in Chattogram have failed to recover the land of Karnaphuli.
``The way the occupiers are building the installations, the huge river will gradually shrink,” he added.
