Clashes erupt during eviction drive in Khulna, 35 injured

KHULNA, Sept 21- At least 35 people, including police officers, were injured in clashes during an eviction drive against illegal occupants in Khulna on Sunday. The eviction drive was halted under protest.

The violence broke out at the Muktijoddha Colony in Boyra Basthuhara area, where residents resisted the eviction attempt.

Witnesses said police and residents engaged in chase-and-counter chase, brick batting, and arson on the streets.
During the operation, agitated local people vandalized a bulldozer belonging to the Roads and Highways Department. Police responded with baton and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

According to police and local people, at around 9:30 am, officials from the National Housing Authority arrived with a magistrate to clear illegal settlers from the colony.

Residents confronted them, throwing bricks at police, prompting a retaliatory baton charge. Protesters later blocked roads, lit fires, and fought with police for nearly an hour.

Bilkis Begum, 45, a long-time resident, said, "We have been living here for over 40 years. If evicted, where will we go? We will not leave under any circumstances."

Russel Hawlader, a government college student, complained that no prior notice was given. "Forcibly evicting us without rehabilitation is completely inhumane," he said.

The colony spans about two acres of land and shelters nearly 200 families.

However, back in 1987, the Housing Authority had officially allotted the land to 42 buyers through a lottery, but they have yet to take possession after 35 years.