96 families evicted from Karatoa river banks in Panchagarh

PANCHAGARH, Dec 23 (UNB): Over 96 families were evicted from the banks of the Karatoa River in the Tulardanga area in Sadar Upazila on Monday in a drive conducted by Upazila Administration to free the area from the encroachers.

The drive, led by Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Golam Rabbani,  started in the morning when Upazila Land Officer Aminul Islam was present.

Local administration started the eviction drive as the families who had been living there illegally did not follow their previous instruction to leave the place, said officials of Water Development Board. 

Meanwhile, the evicted families claimed that the administration assured them of giving three months time ahead of the drive and rehabilitation but they started the drive abruptly.

Visiting the spot, this correspondent found more than 300 people are  now living under open sky near the Eidgah ground after their eviction.

WDB Engineer Md Mizanur Rahman said a park named 'Sonar Bangla' will be established in the embankment area over the celebration of Bangabandhu's birth centenary.

The authorities have allotted Tk 2.98 million for constructing the park, he added.