Several illegal structures, including the riverside banglow of former state minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid, were demolished on Wednesday during an eviction drive along the Buriganga River in Keraniganj.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Dhaka district administration conducted the drive from 10am to 5pm from Hasnabad Postgola to Kautail in South Keraniganj to free the river from encroachment.

Mostafizur Rahman, deputy director of BIWTA, told reporters that the authorities will continue regular operations to reclaim encroached land along Buriganga, Shitalakshya, Turag and Balu rivers.

“No encroacher will be spared, regardless of the person’s influence or status,” he asserted.

Members of law enforcement agencies, including the police, Fire Service, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar and staff from Dhaka Palli Bidyut Samity-4 took part in the drive.

The drive was conducted following a High Court order, said officials.

They said illegal structures set up along the riverbanks for commercial purposes were demolished and a drive against illegal establishments will be conducted from morning to evening on Thursday (21 August).