Mohammad Khorshed Helali Cox’s Bazar North Correspondent:
Extreme tension has spread on the 5th day as well over the eviction of the encroachment of the Bankkhali River in Cox’s Bazar.
Protesters have blocked a road in the Gungachtala area of Cox’s Bazar city. The district administration and BIWT started an eviction drive against the illegal encroachments of the river in the Nuniachara area of the city around 10 am.
At this time, hundreds of men and women from the Peshkar Para area joined the Nuniachara residents.
At this time, locals started protesting on the road. They set fire to tires on the road. The excavator used in the eviction drive was vandalized. Later, when the police and army reached the spot, the protesters surrounded them.
Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station OC Ilias Khan said that law enforcement is trying to remove the protesters from the road.
Due to the blockade, passengers are unable to enter Cox’s Bazar Airport due to the road closure. Similarly, they are unable to exit from there.
At this time, BNP leader Lutfar Rahman Kajal, Jamaat leader Shahidul Alam Bahadur, former mayor Sarwar Kamal, and Riaz Mohammad Shakil calmed the agitated crowd.
The situation began to return to normal around 11:30 am.
