An eviction drive to remove illegal structures along the banks of the Bakkhali River in Cox’s Bazar’s Kasturaghat entered its second day on Tuesday. Shortly after the operation began, illegal occupiers threw bricks at the enforcement team, injuring police constable Karim. He was taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. Three individuals involved in the attack have been arrested.
On Monday, the first day of the drive, seized materials and landfill soil from the illegal structures were auctioned publicly, fetching BDT 600,000. The buyer has begun removing the items.
The eviction resumed around 11:00 am near the Kasturaghat-Khurushkul bridge, where occupiers attempted to resist. Law enforcement quickly took control of the situation.
According to BIWTA Assistant Director Md Khairuzzaman, over three acres of land have been cleared in two days. More items are expected to be auctioned following Tuesday’s operations.
The most encroached section of the 81-kilometre Bakkhali River spans six kilometres from Kasturaghat to Majhirghat, where over 1,000 illegal structures have emerged in the past decade.
Following a 24 August High Court order, authorities are required to evict all encroachers and address pollution within four months. The current drive began in response to that directive.
