The meeting, with Shipping Minister Akbar Hossain in the chair, agreed in principle to construct a protection wall and earthen walkway and to initiate tough legal action against encroachers to save the lifeline of the capital city.

"We will initiate an integrated project in coordination with the BIWTA, the Department of Environment, the Department of Public Works, the Ministry of Land, the Ministry of Water Resources and Rajuk to protect the riverbanks," Akbar said at the meeting.

"Evict the encroachers completely and hand over the land to WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) to build an embankment," the minister further directed.

"We intend to take all possible measures to protect the Buriganga," he told reporters on emerging from the meeting.

Environmental activist and taskforce member Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed proposed the construction of a three-metre high protection wall along the banks to thwart encroachers.

"A wall three kilometres in length can be built to fence off those areas where massive encroachment occurs and which are most vulnerable," the minister said, responding to the proposal.

The convenor of Buriganga Bachao Andolon (Save Buriganga Movement) Prof. Muzaffer Ahmad said that the BIWTA required its own magistrates to facilitate its anti-encroachment drives whenever deemed necessary.

Responding to the point, the BIWTA chairman said it takes several months to get magistrates from the district administration, which sometimes weakens the anti-encroachment drives.

During a six-day drive from October 19 to 25, the BIWTA evicted 576 illegal structures from the banks of the Buriganga, BIWTA Port Director Monwar Hossain said.

Until October 27, the BIWTA had filed 35 criminal cases against encroachers, he told the meeting.On the other hand, encroachers filed 25 cases against the BIWTA during the latest eviction drive.

Legal action against encroachers will be geared up, said Akbar, who heads the taskforce.

The taskforce members will visit the cleared banks sometime during Ramadan and the next meeting of the taskforce will be held immediately after Ramadan, he added.