Land grabbers to be dealt with iron hands: Home adviser

Home Adviser Lt Ge (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has warned of taking tougher action against land grabbers. 
 
"Tougher legal actions will be taken against the land grabbers. They will not be given any concession," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a programme marking the inauguration of the first phase of the project to re-excavate the traditional Shubhadhya Canal in Keraniganj. 
 
"Since there is a jail in Keraniganj, the land grabbers will be kept here if necessary. If anyone obstructs this work, no one will be spared," he also said. 
 
The home adviser said he used to come to Dhaka from his birthplace Sirajdikhan through this canal. 
 
"The condition of this canal is no longer the same as before. This canal was very important to the people of the area in the past for livelihood alongside for environmental balance and for agricultural use," he said. 
 
But over the time, some local land grabbers have gradually destroyed the effectiveness of the canal, he said. 
 
"This traditional canal, the lifeblood of the water flow in this area, is facing a threat today. Once upon a time, the canal connected the Buriganga and Dhaleshwari rivers," he said.  
 
At one time, boats could ply the canal, fish could be caught, and the canal water could be used for agricultural purposes, he said, adding that this canal is now completely filled with waste and polythene. 
 
"It is very sad that some parts of the canal have been filled in such a way that it can be crossed on foot. This seven-kilometer-long beautiful canal is now on the verge of extinction," he said. 
 
Even before this, the canal was renovated in 2007 with the help of the army, but it was re-encroached again by an unscrupulous group, he informed. 
 
"If the canal is rescued, the water will flow. Biodiversity will return. We have to keep an eye on the canal water so that it does not get polluted again. Everyone should keep an eye on it so that no unscrupulous land grabbers can occupy the canal by mistake," he said. 
 
The home adviser said a strict social movement should be developed against the canal grabbers. 
 
Speaking on the occasion, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the canal is filled with plastic. 
 
"Big buildings have been built on both sides of the canal. Excavating the canal is a risky task. That is why we talked to the army and gave them this task," she said. 
 
Representatives of the city corporations, army and concerned senior government officials were present.