Jubo League man's 'time to occupy land'
A local Jubo League leader has occupied this government land adjacent to the Eco Park in Kuakata sea beach to construct a building.Photo: STAR
A local Jubo League leader has started construction of a permanent structure by occupying a piece of khas land beside the approach road of Kuakata eco-park in the sea beach. During a visit to the spot last week, this correspondent saw over 10 labourers employed by Abdur Rahim, president of Jubo League unit of ward No 5 (Kuakata) under Latachaplee union in Kalapara upazila, are working to construct a building on the land measuring about 0.25 acres. Earlier the occupier cut at least 10 trees from the land, locals said. The structure will cause loss of beauty of the eco-park that was set up by the forest department at a cost of Tk 2.76 crore one year ago, said Kuddus Mahmud, a local journalist. Asked about the matter, Jubo League leader Abdur Rahim said, "Now is the time to occupy the land as our party (Awami League) is in power. Earlier many of our people occupied such lands in the beach but nobody reported it in the newspaper. You should not write it." Mohipur forest office range officer Fazlul Haque said all trees that was cut by Abdur Rahim belonged to Water Development Board (WDB) while WDB Section Officer Moinul Islam said according to contract between WDB and forest department ownership of all trees are reserved by the latter. Both the officials said they informed their higher authorities of the matter. Moniruzzaman, in-charge of Kuakata police camp, said they could not take action as nobody submitted any allegation in this regard. When contacted, Patuakhali Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Eusuf Ali Molla said, "We have already asked the Kalapara UNO to take immediate step against the occupier and stop construction work on the land." "The land which Abdur Rahim occupied is a government property as it is a khas land. I am taking step against construction of permanent structure there, also for cutting trees," said Kalapara UNO Md Liakot Ali.
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