S M Akash, Chattogram Correspondent
The Chattogram Port Hydrographer branch has instructed to remove it on an emergency basis, a rumor is circulating among the beneficiaries that there is a cold war between the two agencies.

The High Court has given a verdict to evict the reckless illegal occupants of the Karnafuli River. The eviction drive is underway following the directions of the High Court. Chattogram port and district administration are conducting joint eviction drive.

The state minister of Shipping also directed not to lease the river bank at an event held at the port. However, on January 8 the deputy manager (estate) of district administration Zillur Rahman signed an order allowing an organization to unload sand in the Boalkhali area of the riverfor three months. The lease has now expired. The approval was given on four conditions. It is allowed the extraction of sand from the Volgate through the pipeline. The condition is that sand cannot be piled within 50 meters from the river bank.

The river bank cannot be filled. Also, if the river bank is damaged due to unloading, appropriate compensation has to be paid. The port authority has also allowed a company called M/s Homeland Builders to use the river bank outside the authorized vendor of the port. The deputy manager has again fined the dredger authorities one lakh taka for violating the terms and conditions. Meanwhile, the lessees of the leased vendors of the port have objected to this. In their opinion, the deputy manager allowed unloading of sand outside the rules. It is against the port law to allow any organization other than the port lessee to unload in the port area. It can be seen on the ground that at least 10 sand supplier bases have been built on the banks of Karnafuli river in the area of Kalurghat bridge. Prominent environmentalists have similarly claimed that the three-month permit from the port violated the conditions and indirectly facilitated the occupation of the river bank.

In a response, the port Deputy Manager (Estate) Zillur RahmansaidThe Bangladesh Today, “The company has got a lease to extract sand from Balumhal-1 under the district administration, in which the government has received revenue.” We as the port authority have given permission for sand extraction for three months (i.e. till 31st March). In the meantime this permission has not been renewed but their dredgers have been fined by the magistrate for violating the terms and conditions. Even after this, if anyone questions the responsibility of the port authorities, it is really sad.
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