Local administration has conducted an eviction drive to reclaim 32 acres of government land worth around Tk 320 crore from the illegal occupation in Sagorika area of Chattogram city.

A coordinated eviction drive, led by three Executive Magistrates under different organisaitons of the government, launched the three-day drive on Sunday morning and to reclaim the land occupied for 16 years.

The land will now be returned to the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB).

The drive began around 10:30 am on Sunday and will continue till July 15.

Assistant Commissioner Hossain Muhammad of Kattoli Land Office, Assistant Commissioner Farishta Karim of Patenga Land Office and Assistant Commissioner Md Fazlul Hasan from the Deputy Commissioner’s office conducted the drive.

Fazlul Hasan said, “Government land under various BWDB projects had been under illegal occupation for years. The eviction operation began at 10:30 am today, starting from the Sagorika area. Since the area is vast, the drive will continue for three consecutive days, until July 15.”

Executive Engineer of BWDB Chattogram Division-1, Shawkat Ibne Shahid, said, “We began the drive today to reclaim land that had been occupied for a long time. While some tried to obstruct the eviction, the government is taking a firm stance against illegal encroachers. The drive is being carried out in coordination with the district administration, police, army and other government bodies, supervised by three magistrates.”

Once the illegal structures are demolished, the land will be marked with boundary pillars and barbed wire and afforestation efforts will follow, he added.

Former AL MP Didarul Alam reportedly captured 7 acres while the remaining land was under the control of former Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) panel mayor Nishar Uddin Ahmed Manju, AL leader Manju and Councillor Abul Hashem.

The occupied land was developed into commercial yards for covered vans, excavators, garages and other establishments.