Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) yesterday knocked down some 173 structures at Jahurabad, Palpara and Kawnia in the capital's Mirpur as part of their on-going drive against illegal establishments along the Buriganga and Turag rivers.

A team, led by BIWTA Joint Director AKM Arif Uddin, started the drive at Jahurabad around 9am and continued till 4pm.

The team also recovered around one acre of land during the drive along the banks of Turag river that had been occupied by encroachers.

On the last day of the drive (second phase), BIWTA demolished two three-storey buildings, seven two-storey buildings, 23 one-storey buildings, 38 semi-concrete structures and 103 tin-shed structures.

A total of 2,711 structures have been knocked down so far since the drive began on January 29 and BIWTA also recovered 58 acres of land from encroachers during this time.

BIWTA also fined the encroachers Tk 1.35 lakh.

Arif said they would continue the drive and will resume it from March 25.