20 acres of railway land grabbed in Lalmonirhat
About 20 acres of railway land in different areas of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila have been illegally occupied during the last two months, allegedly by local influential people.
Ten structures have already been constructed on the grabbed lands around the now abandoned Lalmonirhat-Mogholhat tracks and at least 20 more are currently under construction at different points near Futani Market, Durarkuti, Fulgachh and Mogholhat.
Some of the land grabbers separated plots by bamboo fencing and they are now selling the land to local traders for cash.
“A local man grabbed four decimals of railway land near the abandoned tracks nearly two months ago. I wanted to take possession of the land from him but could not as he demanded Tk 1 lakh for it,” said Masum Miah, a local stock businessman at Futani Market.
Ashraf Hossain, a fertiliser trader at Futani Market area, said he purchased possession of two decimals of railway land from one Mohobbot Ali at Futani Market area for Tk 30 thousand two weeks ago.
However Mohobbot Ali, hailing from Khochabari in Lalmonirhat said that there is no document that he sold any railway land.
"Many people grabbed land of Lalmonirhat-Mogholhat railway track. I took only two decimal lands at Fulgachh gate area for constructing a grocery shop. I will vacate this land if railway authority tells me to,” said railway land grabber Jahangir Alam of Fulgachh village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.
People of Mogholhat alleged that local politically involved musclemen are grabbing railway land. They also alleged that some dishonest railway officials were involved in the scam.
Lalmonirhat Railway Divisional Estate Officer Abu Sayeed denied the allegations against railway officials and said his office did not issue any lease order for the land of abandoned Lalmonirhat-Mogholhat railway track.
However he said that he heard about the illegal structures being constructed.
“My office has been preparing a list of railway land grabbers. I will take legal action against them as soon as possible,” Sayeed said.
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