Illegal structures demolished on BWDB land in Paikgachha amid ownership dispute

Authorities demolished several illegal structures built on land owned by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) in Paikgachha on Wednesday morning.

The eviction drive was conducted in the presence of an executive magistrate. Using excavators, officials removed houses belonging to around 10 to 15 families who had been living on the land.

During the operation, several affected families claimed ownership of a portion of the land and protested the demolition. Some broke down in tears.

BWDB Assistant Sub-Engineer Motaleb Hossain said the families had been occupying the land illegally for a long time. He added that repeated notices had been issued asking them to vacate the land, but they did not comply. As a result, the structures were demolished following due process.

Officials present during the drive included Sub-Divisional Engineer Rifat Bin Rafiq, RDCO Arifuzzaman Arif, Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Wasiuzzaman Chowdhury, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Fazle Rabbi, Assistant Engineer Riazul Azad, along with members of the police.

However, locals disputed the claim of prior notice. Tarak Chandra Sana, a resident of Batikhali village, alleged that the eviction was carried out without warning.

He said that he and others—including Subhash, Bidhan, Asim, and Rabindranath Sana—own approximately 62.5 acres of land listed under Khatian No. 269 (Dag Nos. 145, 146, and 147) in Batikhali Mouza. According to him, the land is registered in their names, and taxes have been paid.

He also claimed that a court injunction related to the disputed land is currently in place.

BWDB officials, however, maintained that the eviction drive was conducted in accordance with existing laws and regulations.