1 month to rid Karnaphuli River of land-grabbers

Speakers at a human chain in the port city of Chattogram have warned they will forge a greater movement if the Chattogram Port authority – and the district administration – do not resume their demolition drive against illegal structures built on both banks of the Karnaphuli River within a month.

The Jolashoy o Joladhar Rokkha Committee arranged the programme at the Firingi Bazar Ferry Ghat area in Chattogram on Thursday afternoon.

The speakers added the country's economy revolves around the Karnaphuli River because its key port lies at its estuary. So, killing the Karnaphuli River amounts to killing crores of Bangladeshis.

They later demanded maximum punishment for the people who have illegally occupied both banks of the Karnaphuli River, under the law. 

The district administration has already freed a 10-acre area of the Karnaphuli River. Till now, there are 2,000 illegal structures on a remaining 50-acre area beside the river.

The speakers hope the Chattogram Port Authority and Chattogram district administration will coordinate to resume the demolition drive soon.

Rehana Begum Ranu, convener of the committee, presided over the human chain. Local councilor Hasan Murad Biplob, Kotwali Police Station Officer in Charge Mohammad Mohsin, were, among others, present at the programme.