Construction goes on grabbing canal land
Two local influential men have continued building permanent structures occupying lands of Kalaiya canal in Baufal upazila under the district, defying orders issued by the local land office.
Md Ibrahim Faruque, chairman of Najirpur union parishad under Baufal upazila, also organising secretary of the upazila unit of Awami League, is constructing a multi-storied building on about three decimals of land of the canal, at the east side of Banglabazar Bridge in the municipality, said sources at upazila land office and locals.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Work of the ground floor of the building, only 200 metres from Baufal upazila land office, has already completed and rooms are being rented as shops.
Work of the first floor is going on and six or seven labourers are working daily there, sources said.
Contacted, Ibrahim Faruque said, "I bought 4.25 decimals of land from some Sanu Sikder who had got it as allocation from the government. I am building the structure on my land comprising both purchased land and my father's property."
Baufal upazila land office issued a notice (memo No 272) to Ibrahim in last August to stop the construction work there but he has continued it.
Land office sources said they did not give allocation to anybody on the spot.
Another local named Abdur Razzak of Kalaiya Bazar area under the same upazila is constructing a permanent structure covering about three decimals of land of the same canal at the west side of Kalaiya launch terminal. He has completed the ground floor of the building.
Asked about the matter, Razzak claimed that he is constructing a building on his 'recorded' land that he bought from some Sudhir Chandra Mondol.
Upazila land office sources, on the other hand, said there is no personal land in the canal.
Md Nazmul Hussain Khan, assistant commissioner of land (AC-land) of Baufal upazila, said, "We issued separate notices to the two alleged grabbers but they are continuing the construction works. We have already sent letter to the deputy commissioner for further action against them."