A joint eviction drive by police and city corporation officials in Dhaka’s Mirpur Bauniyabandh area turned violent on Wednesday afternoon when local residents resisted the demolition of thousands of houses built on government land. Witnesses said the situation escalated quickly as residents, angered by the sudden operation, threw bricks at law enforcement officers, forcing police to retreat to avoid further clashes. Videos circulating on social media showed officers running for safety while being chased by crowds.

Authorities claimed the land had been illegally occupied for years and that residents had been repeatedly asked to vacate. However, locals alleged that no prior notice or rehabilitation plan was provided before the eviction began, leaving many low-income families, including rickshaw pullers and garment workers, at risk of homelessness. The incident sparked widespread debate online, with opinions divided between humanitarian concerns and the need to free public land.

Police sources confirmed that several officers were injured, though no details were released. Additional forces were deployed later in the day, and experts warned that such unplanned evictions without resettlement measures often lead to recurring social and humanitarian crises in Dhaka.