At least 300 illegal structures on Rangpur-Kurigram highway in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila were demolished in a drive by Roads and Highways Department (RHD) yesterday.

The structures included Gokunda union unit offices of Awami League in Teesta area and BNP in Mostofi area.

Mahbubur Rahman Faruque, deputy secretary of road transport and bridges ministry, said five masques and two schools, built on RHD land, were served with removal notices yesterday.

Those will be dismantled after the month of Ramadan, he said, adding that in order to turn the highway safer by expanding it to six lanes, the RHD is removing the illegal structures from its land.

RHD will take stern action if anyone rebuilds structures on its land, he also said. 

Ali Noorayen, executive engineer of RHD in Lalmonirhat, said 50 of the 300 structures they dismantled yesterday were complete buildings.     

RHD was following a survey report that identified and demarcated the illegal structures on its land, he also said.

A magistrate from the district administration and personnel from police, fire service and Power Development Board took part in the drive.