Illegal market on RHD land

An influential person is building a market by occupying land owned by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Chowrasta area by the side of Patuakhali-Kuakata road in the district.

RHD Sub-Assistant Engineer Md Hasan Al Mamun said one Ishaq Howlader has built around 20 shops by occupying RHD land on the south-east of Patuakhali Chowrasta area after filling a ditch with sand.

Mamun said they have a plan to upgrade the road from two lanes to four lanes that would be hampered as the market is being built beside the road.

Ishaq continued construction work though they had lodged a complaint against him to Patuakhali Police Station on October 18, the engineer said.

RHD Executive Engineer Mir Nizam Uddin Ahmed said they sent a request to the police station to stop the construction work.

Ishaq said he had already talked with the RHD about the land. He, however, refused to make any more comment to journalists about the matter.

Officer-in-Charge of Patuakhali Police Station S M Tariqul Islam said they have asked Ishaq to stop the construction work.

They are ready to provide support to RHD to demolish the illegal structures, he added.