Manager. Real Estate Division of Sena Kalyan Sangstha, Major Fakharuddin Khan (Rtd) has sent the following note of protest to The Daily Star:
The Sena Kalyan Sangstha hereby puts on record their serious protest against the publication of the news item entitled Sena Kalyan grabs Buriganga' Vublished in the front page on uesday, July 4. 2000. This is totally incorrect and baseless.
For your information, we may mention here that Sena Kalyan Sangstha has entered into an agreement dated 3.12.1998 for purchase of 2 15 acres of land with its rightful owners, situated at All Bahar Mouza of Shampur. Dhaka.
We have now been doing earth filling work to level the ditches and holes without any hindrance or damage or encroachment on the river Buriganga. The land Is being purchased with a view to use as Sena Kalyan Sangstha's cement godown for storage of cement, which are products of Sena Kalyan Sangstha's factory at Mongla. We have not grabbed any land of the river Buriganga and the published news item has given a distorted information to the public and thereby, we feel, that the image of Sena Kalyan Sangstha has been damaged.
We do not have any employee or representative named. "Narayan". So the information published In the paper stating to have been gathered from “Narayan" is incorrect. Mr Er-shad All Chowdhury. Asst. Estate Officer of Sena Kalyan Sangstha was in fact contacted over telephone. He stated that since he Joined the Sangstha about a few months ago he is not aware^pf the project or work. • ' ■ - t
He however, denied to have stated that BIWTA filed a case against Sena Kalyan Sangstha for encroaching the river Buriganga or that the matter was settled.
The picture printed on the first page with reference to the said news item is not of the site In question.
Our reply in the report. The Daily Star did not question the ownership of the land but pointed out that its project over 2.15 acres of land' encroached upon the River Buriganga But why the Sena Kalyan Sangstha is calling the news item baseless is not understandable We reiterate our position and challenge the Sena Kalyan Sangstha to prove that it is not earthfilling and damaging the river. What authority and right they have to cause such colossal damage to the river by rilling earth to fill up the ’ditches' by their own admission.
BIWTA officials at Sadarghat and its head office at Motijheel confirmed that the project was ‘totally illegal'. A top BIWTA official told The Daily Star that the Sangstha's installation at Shyampur
Bazar is "beyond doubt an illegal encroachment on River Buriganga not only hindering water flow but also obstructing navigation". The B1WTA has officially decided to sue the Sena Kalyan Sangstha. “But now we will try to convince them to remove the encroachment as soon as possible or face legal action." said a BIUTA official.
Other official sources said just after the Sena Kalyan Sangstha started to landfill, BIWTA lodged an official complaint with the Sangstha stating that the area is classified as "Foreshore" and it belonged to BIWTA. No landfill could be carried out there and no structures should be built.
In reply. Sena Kalyan Sangstiia said that they would 'soon' obtain permission from the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of DhaKa. But BIWTA officials pointed out that the DC had nothing to do with the said area as it belongs to BIWTA. The Sena Kalyan Sangstha nonetheless went ahead with the landfill and built their structure encroaching on the River Buriganga. Moreover, the Sangstha failed to obtain an Environmental Clearance from the Department of Environment as required by law. officials confirmed.
At the spot this correspondent talked to people who were busy noting down official accounts ana who also claimed that they were responsible for updating the development of the project The person Identified himself as Narayan and whatever information he provided docs not. in any way. contradict the statement made in Sangstha's note of protest. The picture printed with the report did not represent the Sangstha's Installation but another Illegal installation near It.
The Dally Star stands by Its report and urges the Sena Kalyan Sangstha to stop Its work forthwith which is damaging and killing the river. We also like to point out that such responsible organisation of the government and Armed Forces is out to play havoc with our environment Buying some land from some people does not entitle anybody, especially high profile organisation like the Sena Kalyan Sangstha to do something which threatens to destroy our collective heritage and national wealth.