Authorities resume crackdown on illegal settlements along Bakkhali River after 2.5 years

Authorities have resumed the long-delayed operation to remove illegal settlements along the banks of the Bakkhali River in Kasturaghat, the heart of Cox's Bazar city. 

The campaign began this morning (1 September), jointly led by the Cox's Bazar district administration with support from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

Confirming the operation, BIWTA Cox's Bazar office Assistant Director Md Khairuzzaman said, "The campaign aims to remove illegal settlements along the Bakkhali River and restore its natural flow. The operation will continue until all unauthorised structures are cleared."

The clearance drive, supervised by four executive magistrates from the district administration, is being supported by police, the Coast Guard, the army, and the Rapid Action Battalion to ensure law and order is maintained.

The Bakkhali River, originating from Naikhongchhari in Bandarban, stretches 81 kilometers through Ramu and Cox's Bazar Sadar, flowing into the Bay of Bengal via Kasturaghat-Nuniarchara. 

The six-kilometer stretch from Nuniarchara to Majhirghat has witnessed the highest concentration of illegal settlements. Over the past 10-12 years, more than 1,000 unauthorised structures have been built in this area.

The local land office and BIWTA have compiled joint lists of illegal occupants along the river. While there are over a thousand unauthorised settlers, the lists specifically highlight nearly 350 influential local figures, including Cox's Bazar district Awami League general secretary Mujibur Rahman, organising secretary Rashedul Islam, Cox's Bazar municipal BNP president Rafiqul Huda Chowdhury, and AB Party central leader Jahangir Kashem.

According to BIWTA, the government appointed it as custodian of the Bakkhali River port through a notification published on 6 February 2010, which included 721 acres of riverbank land. However, the district administration failed to implement the transfer, allowing illegal settlements to persist.

Previously, on 28 February and 1 March 2023, a joint operation removed over 600 illegal structures, freeing more than 300 acres of riverbank land. But in the two and a half years since, more than 200 illegal settlements have been rebuilt. 

Some have fenced off hundreds of acres of wetlands with tin barriers. Trash and debris are also being dumped along the river, with machinery used to fill low-lying areas.

Following a High Court directive issued on 24 August, the government was instructed to prepare a comprehensive list of illegal occupants along the Bakkhali River and take steps to clear the settlements and control pollution within four months. 

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain visited Cox's Bazar a week later to coordinate the operation, emphasising proper implementation of the court order.

Deputy Commissioner Nizam Uddin Ahmed said, "Important decisions were made at the special coordination meeting for restoring the river area. In the ongoing operation, all illegal settlements along the river will be removed, and the river boundaries will be clearly marked."