Authorities are pulling down illegal establishments along the banks of Turag River in Mirpur. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) demolished at least three buildings in Kaundia Ghat area, last reported this morning.

“Our drive will continue and we will not be budged by influential men,” AKM Arifuddin, deputy director of BIWTA told The Daily Star during the drive.

The BIWTA had identified 906 illegal structures along the bank of Buriganga, stretching from Sadarghat to Gabtoli in Dhaka.

They started a 13-day drive on January 29 to free the river from encroachers and demolished 1,721 illegal structures.

Under a new project, the government is going to set up some 12,000 demarcation pillars along the rivers around the capital to protect them from encroachment.

Tenders will be floated soon and the work might start within the next three months. The government has already appointed a consultant to implement the Tk 850 crore project.

Under the scheme, the government will build some 50km walkways, plant trees along the walkways and set up three eco-parks at Shinnirtek, Tongi and Ashulia.