DHAKA, Oct 09, 2024 (BSS) - Local Government, Rural Development and
Cooperatives Adviser AF Hassan Ariff today said houses of poor have been
demolished in the name of evicting illegal occupants around the rivers during
the past regime, although big buildings are still standing high next to those
houses.

"Most of the domestic workers of the capital live in the areas where eviction
drives have been conducted. This isn't the right way of eviction, as it
affects them economically," he said.

The advisor made the remarks while addressing a seminar "Blue network around
Dhaka city" at Pani Bhaban here, said a ministry press release.

Revealing that they have formed a committee with experts, Hassan Ariff, also
adviser of the ministry of land, said, "Our first task will be to identify
the problem on the basis of their suggestions and then find a solution."

He added, "As we know that proper rules and regulations were not followed in
road constructions. We need to collectively start the action plan. Now
decisions should be taken after scrutinizing the recommendations to be made
by the experts."

With Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministries of Environment, Forestry
and Climate Change and Water Resources in the chair, Adilur Rahman Khan,
Advisor to the Ministries on Industries and, Housing and Public Works also
spoke at the seminar.

Adilur Rahman Khan stressed the need for initiating eviction drive against
the illegal occupants, saying "If we can't save the rivers and canals from
the illegal encroachers, the people will not get the results of the mass-
uprising of July-August."

He added, "For this, I will do what is necessary from the ministry."

Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, "If we don't think about Dhaka's canals and rivers,
then we will not be able to save Dhaka."

"An integrated action plan will have to be taken to save Dhaka's rivers and
canals . . . immediate, mid-term and three-year roadmap along with an
integrated action plan will have to be prepared," she said, mentioning that
the young generation of Dhaka did not see any clean canal.

Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources Nazmul Ahsan, and Director
General of Bangladesh Water Development Board Muhammad Amirul Haque Bhuyan,
among others, others were also present.