Bamboo malls add to Buriganga pangs

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Encroachment of the Buriganga river goes on unabated, with a new sequence, the spring up of bamboo-malls under both sides of the second Buriganga Bridge (Babubazar Bridge, adding to the river’s death pangs.
Sources say, around 40 to 50 bamboo-selling shops have been constructed there illegally. Not only that, some portion of the area has also been filled up with sand at individual initiative.
As a result, navigability of the river in this area has reduced. Garbage and rotten bamboos are contaminating river water.
A provision of the National River Protection Act No. 9 says construction of illegal structures, and irregularities beside river banks, which hamper normal water flow will not be allowed, and will be prevented at any cost. However, the owners of the bamboo malls are doing business disobeying the act.
Allegation runs rife the mall owners continue business under surveillance of law enforcement agency. Some local influentials are also allegedly involved.
While talking to this correspondent, Makbul Bepari, one of the mall owners said, “We have to deal here in exchange of a good amount of money to some local powerful bodies. Though the business is not so good, we cannot, but provide money to them.”
Seeking anonymity, another businessman said that local ruling party leaders come every day to collect money from them.
Some of the businessmen alleged that a lion’s share of their earning goes to the pockets of both local influentials and police. That is why they do not have enough money at the end of the day.
When contacted, Badrul Hasan Riyad Additional Commissioner of Police of Kotwali thana zone denied the allegation of taking money from the businessmen.
“I am not aware of such a matter. If anyone is found involved in taking money, measures will be taken against them.”
“We have recently conducted several drives to evict the malls in collaboration with the BIWTA. The number of bamboo malls is now less than previously,” he added.

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