Rajuk pulls down 200 shanties

August 31, 2008

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha on Saturday pulled down at least 200 shanties on both sides of the railway in Hatirjheel-Begunbari project area leaving several hundred people shelterless.
Most of the evicted people were helplessly waiting with their belongings in the area as, many of them said, they had no place in the capital to take shelter.
Solaiman Ali, who would work in Karwanbazr kitchen market, said, ‘I have no alternative other than going to my village home in Kishoreganj along with my family as I have no place to live here in the capital.’
‘The drive just before Ramadan will certainly leave the evicted people in deep trouble and most of them will pass tough time during the Eid-ul-Fitr,’ he said.
Rajuk conducted the drive to reclaim nine acres of land, handed over by the Bangladesh Railway, from unauthorised occupants. Bangladesh Railway handed over the land to implement the Hatirjheel-Begunbari Integrated Development Project.
Rajuk executive magistrate Emdadud Dostagir led the drive, which began at 11:00am with the help of the army and police personnel. Rajuk officials and about 25 workers took part in the drive.
Two workers were injured while pulling down tins and bamboos of the shanties. They were given first-aid, Rajuk officials said.
Rajuk issued notice three months back asking all the unauthorised occupiers to leave the place, a Rajuk official said adding that they had also make announcement through PA system.
As per government decision, no unauthorised structures, excepting for the BGMEA Bhaban, will be allowed inside the project area, Rajuk officials said.
The work on the Tk 1473.59 crore mega project began on February 7. The Local Government Engineering Department, Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority and Armed Forces Division along with the city development agency are implementing the mega project to be financed by the Japan Debt Cancellation Fund and the government.

Rajuk pulls down 200 shanties

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