Action against Buriganga grabbers

It's worth recalling a drive was determinedly initiated by the caretaker government, but for obvious reasons, it didn't last long. Since then, demolition has been intermittently carried out by authorities, but because of their sporadic nature they failed to make any dent in the situation. Thanks to the law enforcement slack, the encroachers crept back on to the scene rebuilding structures from the rubbles. Nevertheless, we now see signs of renewed commitment and determination that were sorely missed in the past.

So far so good; the authorities would do well to remember that their responsibility doesn't end with just the demolition work and eviction of the encroachers. In the past, similar attempts frizzled out because of legal tangles. First, the process of demolition will have to be sustained; secondly, the results of the work done will have to be consolidated; and last but not least, effective legal action must be taken against the land grabbers and environment violators. If legal action is not taken against the encroachers after the demolition work, they would simply return and reclaim the land they had been occupying illegally before being thrown out. After all, there are some government bodies as well on the list of encroachers. No one should be spared.

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On top of joining the environmental activists in calling for non-stop demolition along the riverside, we urge the government to take deterrent punitive action against the land grabbers and polluters.