Drive Begins to Evict Illegal River Port in Pabna

A team of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) began a drive to evict illegal river port in Pabna’s Bera upazila today morning.

The port has been run by Bera municipality Mayor Abdul Baten, whi is also president of Bera Awami League.

The BIWTA team led by shipping ministry’s Deputy Secretary Habibur Rahman Hakim started the drive around 9:00am and demolished its six ghats on the bank of the Hurasagor river.

They also detained five people from several cargo vessels anchored at the small river port established at Brishalikha, Habibur Rahman said.

They also demolished the roads approaching towards the port where cargo vessels and lorries are unloaded.

Asked how long the drive will go on, the official said, ''We will continue the drive until all the illegal structures are demolished''.

Besides, they seized a huge amount of fertilizers stored there.

Municipality Mayor Abdul Baten constructed a one-storey building, bearing a signboard, reading, ''Brishalikha Non-Government Raj Ghat'', on the bank of the river to manage the loading and unloading of goods from vessels and lorries.

On the other hand, the state-run Baghabari River Port, only about 10km away, is being deprived of revenue due to the diversion of river traffic to the unregulated ''port'', according to the BIWTA officials.

According to rules, only the BIWTA can operate a river port.