Trucks and covered vans stood parked in multiple rows, and goods were being loaded onto and unloaded from cargo vessels anchored nearby on the Turag river.

It is locally known as Diabari truck stand, which is on an illegally occupied riverbank, between pillars 13 and 18 demarcating the Turag's boundaries.

A connecting road has also been constructed near pillar 14. During a recent visit, trucks and covered vans were seen using this road to reach the stand.

This stretch of the Turag between Dhour and Kholamora points is considered a major route for trade.

In some open spaces between the rows of parked trucks at the stand, there were piles of construction materials such as sand, bricks and iron rods.

A salon, cattle sheds, a rickshaw garage and other structures were also constructed in other open spaces of the truck stand.

According to environmentalists and local sources, the truck stand was controlled by the late MP Aslamul Haque who set it up around nine years ago.

After Aslamul Haque's death two months ago, they said, his elder brother and Jatiya Party presidium member Mofizul Haque Bebu took charge of the illegal truck stand.

This newspaper and other media reports previously detailed multiple allegations and actions taken against the former MP for Dhaka-14 constituency and his company, Maisha Group, for encroaching upon the Turag river and setting up structures there.

Last December, a probe by the National River Commission found Aslamul filled up more than 54 acres of Buriganga river land and wetland to construct a power plant and factories.

Contacted, Mofizul denied the matter. He claimed neither he, his late brother Aslamul or any other family member were involved in the establishment or operation of the truck stand.

Mofizul further said the place in question had been empty and the Bangladesh Inter-District Truck Drivers' Union had then established the stand there. He referred this writer to Ahmed Ali, general secretary of the truck drivers' union.

Contacted, Ahmed Ali said the union was in no way involved with the establishment and operation of the Diabari truck stand.

Environmentalists said the setting up such a structure on the river land is a violation of environmental laws. They demanded effective government action against the illegal truck stand immediately.

Chairman of Poribesh Bachao Andolon Abu Naser Khan said a truck stand occupying river banks cannot be accepted in any way. If action is not taken for such offences, other perpetrators will get inspired to do the same.

Sharif Jamil, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon, too said necessary measures should be taken against the truck stand immediately.

Contacted, Md Motiul Islam, executive engineer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), a government body responsible for maintaining waterways, said the truck stand is not permanent and drives would be taken against it shortly.

The 71-kilometre Turag river originates from Gazipur's Kaliakoir area and flows across Joydevpur in Gazipur, Mirzapur in Tangail, Savar, and Mirpur areas of Dhaka.

Earlier, both the Turag and Dhaleshwari rivers would supply water to the Buriganga river.

Recently, however, the connection between the Buriganga and Dhaleshwari rivers was severed, leaving the Turag as the only source feeding the Buriganga.

[Tarun Sarkar is a freelance journalist and researcher who writes for The Daily Star]