Dhaka, April 22 -- The government has identified 21,982 river encroachers across the country and is preparing to launch eviction drives against them, Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said.

Responding to a question from National Citizen Party (NCP) MP Hasnat Abdullah in parliament on Wednesday, Rabiul cited the updated list prepared by the National River Conservation Commission.

He said all deputy commissioners had been instructed to publish the list on their official websites and submit action plans for eviction, adding that field-level operations would begin shortly.

The disclosure highlights renewed government efforts to reclaim encroached waterways amid longstanding concerns over illegal occupation of rivers and floodplains.

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