Riverside eviction halted following five days of resistance
In the bustling district of Cox's Bazar, a standoff between officials and protesters has brought traffic to a standstill on both main and airport roads. The eviction drive, initiated by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), has stirred up controversy and raised questions among the local community.
Central BNP leader and former MP Lutfor Rahman Kajol, along with other political figures, arrived at the scene, urging the administration to review land documents before proceeding with the eviction. Hundreds of residents claimed the eviction was illegal, stating they held land ledgers and had long paid taxes.
The eviction drive, which began on Monday, has been repeatedly obstructed since its first day. Residents in Peshkarpara have erected bamboo barricades and blocked roads, staging sit-ins and vowing not to leave their homes "until death."
The 81-kilometre-long Bakkhali River has seen severe encroachment along a six-kilometre stretch between Nuniarchhara and Majhirghat, with over 1,000 illegal structures built in the last decade. The river's current flow and boundaries are to be determined through an RS survey, as directed by the court.
Following discussions, BIWTA temporarily suspended the operation. However, the eviction drive was suspended again on Thursday, this time citing security concerns. No BIWTA official was willing to comment on the matter.
In August 2023, the High Court ordered the government to identify all encroachers along the Bakkhali, evict them within four months, and take measures to prevent pollution. In early 2023, a joint operation cleared more than 600 illegal structures and freed over 300 acres of mangrove land, but much of the land was later reoccupied.
Police and BIWTA have filed two cases over attacks on police and obstruction of officials, with 650 people as accused. Charges were filed for obstructing government work, and efforts to arrest the accused are underway.
In August 2023, a representative from the Bangladesh government visited Cox's Bazar to compile a list of all dispossessed individuals and to carry out dispossession measures. Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain visited Cox's Bazar on 30 August and announced a consolidated list of encroachers would be prepared for eviction.
As the situation in Cox's Bazar unfolds, it is clear that the eviction drive has sparked a significant response from the local community. After the bulldozers and law enforcement withdrew, political leaders persuaded protesters to end the blockade, and traffic returned to normal after noon.
The future of the eviction drive remains uncertain, as both sides continue to negotiate and navigate the complexities of the situation. The hope is that a resolution can be found that respects the rights of all parties involved while ensuring the protection and preservation of the Bakkhali River and its surrounding ecosystem.
