Stop construction on banks of Dhaleswari

Members of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) yesterday gave a one-day ultimatum to the Dhaka Northern Power Generation (DNPG) Ltd authorities, to stop construction work of infrastructure on government land -- the Dhaleswari riverbank in Dhalla union in Singair upazila of Manikganj.

The ultimatum came from a protest rally on Shahid Rafique Bridge on river Dhaleswari in Dhalla area, at around 11:00am. Several hundred people from all walks of life joined the rally, where members of Dhaleswari Nodi Bachao Andolon also participated.

Member of National River Protection Commission Sharmin Murshid, Bapa vice president and noted columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Bapa joint secretaries Mihir Biswas and Sharif Jamil, Dhaleswari Nodi Bachao Andolon convener Azharul Islam Arzu, its member secretary Abdul Hamid addressed the event, among others.

Abul Maksud said the government formed the National River Protection Commission to check occupation and pollution of rivers. He said the construction work by DNPG authorities must stop within a day. If the company does not stop the work on river, tougher programme would be called, he said.

A case was filed on July 1 by an official of the Dhalla union's Land Office under Special Powers Act, accusing five people, in connection with grabbing government land on the Dhaleshwari river.

DNPG started construction of infrastructure on 11 acres and 30 decimals of government land on the riverbank, according to the complaint and the upazila Land Office. Despite obstruction of the work several times by the land office and district administration, the work has not stopped.