Dhaka: Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has issued a stern warning about impending tough actions against land grabbers. "Tougher legal actions will be taken against the land grabbers. They will not be given any concession," he declared.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Home Adviser made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a program marking the inauguration of the first phase of the project to re-excavate the traditional Shubhadhya Canal in Keraniganj. He emphasized the potential detention of offenders in the local jail, indicating that no interference would be tolerated during the canal's restoration process.
The Home Adviser shared his personal connection to the canal, recalling how he used to travel from Sirajdikhan to Dhaka through it. He lamented the canal's deterioration, noting its past significance for local livelihoods, environmental balance, and agriculture. Over time, land grabbers have compromised the canal's effectiveness, which once connected the Buriganga and Dhaleshwari rivers.
The canal, now filled with waste and polythene, was once navigable by boat and supported fishing and agricultural activities. Its current state, with parts filled to the point of being walkable, signifies its decline. The canal was previously renovated in 2007 with army assistance but fell prey to re-encroachment by unscrupulous individuals.
The Home Adviser stressed the need for vigilance to prevent pollution and re-occupation of the canal, advocating for a strict social movement against such activities. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan highlighted the canal's pollution with plastic and the challenges of its excavation, which led to involving the army in the task.
The event was attended by representatives from city corporations, the army, and senior government officials.