Clearing illegal shops in Keranihat – more trouble than its worth

An eviction drive was conducted to remove illegal shops and temporary structures that had sprung up along the highway in Keranihat—a key commercial hub in Satkania, Chittagong. The operation also targeted shops located along the Keranihat-Dhemsa section of the Keranihat-Bandarban road.


The drive, which took place on Thursday morning (October 15), was led by Rajib Das Purkayastha, the Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate. During the operation, various temporary shops and structures that had encroached upon the roadside were cleared.


However, the campaign is beginning to prove more troublesome than its worth. According to locals, hawkers and traders had been operating along the roadsides in Keranihat for a long time. The placement of merchandise in front of shops, the gathering of customers, and the parking of vehicles along the road narrowed the available space for traffic. This frequently caused traffic congestion during peak hours, creating significant hardship for passengers and pedestrians.


Locals noted that the shops and temporary structures along the Keranihat-Dhemsa section of the Keranihat-Bandarban road, in particular, were obstructing the normal movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Following the eviction, the roadside space has been cleared, allowing for smoother traffic flow. Residents have urged authorities to maintain regular surveillance and take necessary measures to ensure that illegal structures do not reappear in the cleared areas.


Satkania Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Rajib Das Purkayastha stated that there is no scope for the illegal construction of shops or structures on highways or roadside land. He emphasized that these operations are being carried out to ensure the unhindered movement of the public and to alleviate traffic congestion.


He added that the cleared areas will be monitored to prevent re-encroachment, and that such operations will continue in the public interest.


Also present during the operation was the Additional Superintendent of Police for the Satkania Circle, Md. Ariful Islam Siddiqui; Soheli Noshin Protyasha, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Satkania Upazila; Towhidul Bari, Civil Engineer of the Dohazari Road Sub-division; and Abdul Alim, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Satkania Police Station, among others. — Syed Mahfuz-un-Nabi, Satkania Correspondent

- SH/NS