Controversial Dhaka Boat Club asked to vacate occupied land
The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has asked the authorities of the Dhaka Boat Club Limited to vacate the 10-acre land in Savar it has been illegally occupying.
Failure to comply will result in legal action for eviction, the board said in a letter to the club's president today (28 January).
The letter states that the board had acquired land for the construction of a flood control embankment as part of the Dhaka Integrated Flood Protection Project.
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"You, the president of Dhaka Boat Club Limited, have illegally occupied a total of 10.7315 acres of land along the [Turag] riverbank, which was acquired by the BWDB."
The letter further said, in response to an application from Dhaka Boat Club Limited, the board had previously granted permission to use 0.55 acres of land in the same area.
"However, in addition to this, you, the president of Dhaka Boat Club Limited, have illegally included the BWDB's 10.7315 acres of land within the boundary wall of your property, which is entirely unlawful, illegal, and constitutes trespassing on government land," reads the letter.
"Under these circumstances, you are hereby directed to vacate the 10.7315 acres of land within the next seven days," said the letter, signed by ML Saikat, executive engineer of the BWDB.
In September last year, the controversial Dhaka Boat Club, once served by former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed as its president, was set to face potential action, including possible eviction, by government authorities.
There were allegations that the club encroached on land from the Turag River and violated rules prohibiting construction within 200 yards of the river's boundary.
Several environmental and social organisations have complained that the club, established in 2021, was built on occupied river land and called for the demolition of the illegal structure.
The Dhaka Boat Club officially launched in February 2021. According to its website, Dhaka Boat Club Limited (DBCL) is the premier recreational boating and social club in Dhaka, established in 1985.
The website claims the club is the first of its kind in Dhaka and is located on the picturesque shores of the Turag River.
