The administration has launched an eviction drive to free the Chakirpashar River in Rajarhat Upazila of Kurigram. The eviction drive began on Thursday afternoon by demolishing the embankments built on the river in Kailashkuthi and Bansherdaha villages of the upazila.
According to the upazila administration and local sources, fish farming began in the early 1980s by building dams and ponds in the river. This obstructed the flow of water, causing waterlogging in 15,000 to 20,000 acres of land upstream. The Chakirpasha River Protection Committee had been carrying out a movement demanding the removal of waterlogging. The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) filed a writ petition in the High Court in public interest regarding this. In August 2023, the High Court ordered the demolition of all illegal structures in the river. Based on this, the demolition process began.
Rajarhat Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ashadul Haque led the drive. Officials from the Upazila administration and Water Development Board were present during the eviction drive. Police and Ansar assisted in the drive.
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ashadul Haque told Prothom Alo that the illegal encroachment has begun by breaking a cross-border embankment near Kailashkuthi village in the upazila. 132 cases have been filed on behalf of the administration to free the land from illegal encroachments. Once these cases are settled, it will be possible to completely free the Chakirpasha River from encroachment.
Source: Prothom Alo
