The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) conducted a drive today and knocked down 11 illegally built jetties beside two rail bridges and a highway bridge over the Meghna at Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria.

Two people were also detained and fined during the drive, reports our Brahmanbaria correspondent.

The BIWTA team, led by Executive Magistrate Raj Kumar Biswas and Prosanta Baidya from Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner's Office, conducted the drive from Ferryghat area to Silo area of Ashuganj food warehouse from 10:30am to 1:00pm.

During the drive, they demolished the 11 jetties illegally built by a local influential syndicate and removed sand which was lifted from the river and deposited on the bank.

Md Ashaduzzaman, BIWTA's river port control officer in Ashuganj and Bhairab-Bazar, told The Daily Star that legal action will be taken against those involved in the illegal occupation of the Ashuganj portion of the Meghna river bank.

Besides, the eviction drives will continue until the river is completely free of illegal occupation, he added.

Executive Magistrate Raj Kumar Biswas said that the eviction drive was carried out on the Meghna river bank in Ashuganj in response to application made to BIWTA. Two persons were detained and also fined for lifting the sand, he added.

The Daily Star on January 8 published a report under a headline “Illegal stations, sand trade threat to 3 Meghna bridges”.

According to the report, illegal landing stations operate poses serious threat to the three important state-owned structures -- President Zillur Rahman Railway Bridge, Shaheed Habildar Abdul Halim Railway Bridge and Syed Nazrul Islam Highway Bridge over the Meghna river at Ashuganj.

The matter then came to the notice of the BIWTA and they immediately conducted a mobile court in association with Brahmanbaria district administration.