The general public has welcomed the eviction drive conducted by the Roads and Highways Department (SOHD) in the acquired land in Chatari Chaumuhani Bazar, the heart of Anwara Upazila of Chittagong. Local residents and conscious circles have strongly demanded that this important road, which has been in the hands of encroachers for a long time, be completely free from encroachment.
Locals allege that for years, an organized syndicate had illegally occupied government land and built shops and was running its business without any problems. Despite being given notices several times, they ignored them and maintained their encroachment. As a result, this road, which is used by thousands of people every day, has become a center of severe traffic jams, chaos and public suffering.
In particular, serious disruptions were being created in the movement of vehicles, illegal parking and the normal movement of pedestrians. According to locals, the encroachers, who are self-proclaimed landlords, often find the administration helpless in the face of their influence and power. Although eviction drives have been conducted several times in the past, they reoccupy the land and build settlements after a few days.
Locals are seeing this eviction drive as a positive one. They say that the entire acquired land should be de-encroached for a permanent solution, not a partial one, and strict monitoring should be ensured to prevent re-encroachment.
Local resident Shahidul Islam said that Anwara has now become an important commercial center. Chatri Chowmuhani and CUFL roads are the lifelines of this area. The common people have been suffering a lot due to illegal constructions here for a long time. We applaud this initiative of the administration, but it should not be temporary but permanent.
In this regard, Abdullah Al Noman Parvez, the engineer in charge of the SAWZ, said that this eviction drive is being conducted to speed up development activities and reduce the suffering of the people. He further said, “Our goal is to normalize public traffic by keeping the entire road space free from encroachment.”
