21,982 illegal occupiers grab rivers, minister tells parliament

Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam told parliament that 21,982 people have illegally occupied rivers across the country, citing the latest list from the National River Conservation Commission.

He presented the information on Wednesday during a question-and-answer session in the Jatiya Sangsad in response to a query from MP Hasnat Abdullah. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed presided over the session.

The minister said authorities have published the list on a website and asked all deputy commissioners to submit eviction action plans. He added that the ministry will start eviction drives once it receives lists of encroachers eligible for immediate removal.

Rabiul Alam also expressed optimism about the full operation of Payra Port. He said work on a 1,180-metre four-lane bridge over the Andharmanik River and a 6.35-kilometre six-lane terminal road linking the port to the Dhaka–Kuakata highway has reached the final stage.

He expects authorities to complete the work by December this year, which will allow the port to begin full operations early next year.

The minister said authorities plan to maintain navigability in the Rabnabad Channel and build dredging capacity. He added that once they secure approval to procure dredgers, all types of vessels will be able to use the port by 2027–28.