Dhaka: The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has successfully removed 28,325 illegal structures from the banks of five major rivers since 2010, recovering 1,244.22 acres of riverbank land, as disclosed by Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam in Parliament today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Shipping Minister informed that the eviction operations targeted illegal structures along the Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Balu, Dhaleshwari, and Turag rivers. The minister was responding to a question from Rafiqul Islam Hilali, a treasury bench lawmaker representing Netrokona-3.
Under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, Rabiul Alam emphasized the government’s commitment to preventing river encroachment and pollution while ensuring the safe and uninterrupted movement of vessels. The minister highlighted that BIWTA’s various programs focus on developing government-gazetted river ports, enhancing physical facilities, improving passenger services, and removing illegal structures.
Ongoing measures include mobile court operations, demarcation of river boundaries, installation of boundary pillars, construction of walkways, afforestation, and the development of eco-parks. Rabiul Alam concluded by stating that these efforts aim to protect riverbanks from illegal occupation and enhance the navigability and safety of the country’s inland waterways.