Grabbers' eyes on river Khakdan in Barguna

The Khakdan river flowing through Barguna town is being filled up by local influential people who are constructing illegal structures on both sides of the river.

As a result, the river is becoming narrower and launches on different routes, including Dhaka-Barguna, are facing great difficulties in plying it, though Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) often re-excavates the river.

Over 2,000 illegal structures have been built on both sides of the river.

Deputy Commissioner of Barguna Bashirul Alam said they held several meetings with the land office over the matter and a list of occupiers is being prepared, adding that they will take steps to remove all illegal structures after finalising the list.

Port Officer Mamun-ur-Rashid said it is the only waterway for communicating with the district headquarters, but it is becoming narrower due to the illegal structures on the banks, adding that launches do not ply the route now although it is one of the profitable naval routes in the country.

BIWTA re-excavated the river three times between 2010 and 2015 to maintain its navigability, but most of the river has been filled up with sand as water flow has become very slow.

Md Eunus Ali, master of double-decker launch MV Juboraj of Dhaka-Barguna route, said launches often get stuck, especially during low tide, as the river has become so narrow.

Barguna district administration handed over 15.478 acres of land to BITWA on October 8 in 2006 as per instruction from the land ministry by setting up pillars, but most of foreshore land has been grabbed by occupiers.