More than 200 illegal structures built by occupying government land of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) were demolished during an eviction drive in Faridpur on Tuesday.
The district administration also removed temporary shops and other structures from the area around Faridpur Medical College Hospital. The operation began at around 10:30am on Tuesday (September 15).
Officials said the illegal structures had narrowed parts of the road and obstructed access to and from the medical college hospital. As a result, patients, their relatives and pedestrians were facing difficulties.
The eviction drive began in front of Faridpur Medical College Hospital. The authorities said the operation would subsequently cover RHD-owned areas along the Bhanga-Faridpur Goalchamot Road, from the River Research Institute area to the Bhanga Road intersection.
During the operation, shops and other structures occupying RHD land were demolished one after another. Temporary businesses and other establishments obstructing movement around the road and hospital area were also removed.
The operation was led by Faridpur Sadar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md Shafiqul Islam, with personnel from the Roads and Highways Department, district police, RAB and Ansar participating.
Shafiqul Islam said the district administration was assisting the Roads and Highways Department in removing illegal occupants. He said structures built on government land and temporary shops around the hospital were disrupting movement for patients, their relatives and pedestrians.
“The operation will continue,” he said.
A large number of law enforcement personnel were deployed during the drive to maintain public order and prevent any untoward incident.
Faridpur Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Azmir Hossain said different law enforcement units were participating in the operation at the request of the district administration and Roads and Highways Department.
Faridpur Roads and Highways Department Executive Engineer Khaled Saifullah said all illegally occupied RHD land from the front of the medical college hospital to the Bhanga Road intersection would be cleared. Tuesday’s operation was part of that process.
Officials of the Roads and Highways Department said other government land under its jurisdiction that has been illegally occupied would also be cleared in phases. Authorities will also monitor the cleared areas to prevent fresh encroachment or construction.
Relatives of patients visiting the hospital said removing the long-standing illegal structures would make movement easier around the hospital and adjoining roads.
