Land grabbing

The founding father of Kenya Mr. Jumo Kenyatta while travelling from Nairobi to Mombassa by road noticed a large well-organised agricultural farm, drove inside and asked the manager, "Who is the owner of the farm? I would like to have it" the response was, "Gentleman you cannot buy it, the owner of the farm is Mr. Kenyatta".

Mr. Kenyatta and his generous wife Mamangina owned so many such large farms that they could not recognise one of their own miles long farms. They grabbed land in style, the stories are well known. Kenyatta and his successor Daniel Arap Moi ruled Kenya for over 30 years. They used to call landowners with lots of dignity. Messages will go out of President House to an individual that the Honourable President desires the company of the person for a cup of coffee. The President will have the pleasure to share the well-known flavourful Kenyan coffee, following the coffee session within hours the guest will part with his precious land. Such was the grand style of grabbing land in Kenya by the powerful.

Today the empty land in Dhaka city is being grabbed. Filling up and grabbing lakes, water-bodies and playgrounds is a way of life for the powerful elites.

Some 40 years ago, a friend of mine was returning to Dhaka after completing his studies in the US , the dean of the school invited him for dinner, when my friend told him that he was taking his car home, the professor responded by saying, "Is there a car worthy road in your country since most of the time your land remains under flood water?"

Perhaps it will be wise for the Mercedeswalas and BMWwalas in Dhaka to order small luxury boats to use over Dhaka city roads during monsoon for many years to come. It will be a good investment indeed.