KPI Land 'Grabbing' in Magura
Area measured but no action in about 2 weeks
Officials measured the land around Nabaganga Regulator near Dhaka Road bus stand in Magura town on November 5 but a tin-shed structure, illegally set up by an alleged land grabber just beside the key point installation in late September, is yet to be removed.Photo: STAR
Dilly-dallying in taking action against illegal construction and land grabbing in the restricted area adjacent to the four-vent Nabaganga regulator, a Key Point Installation (KPI) in the country, has given rise to question about the role of the administration. In late September, Rajab Ali Majnu, a businessman in Magura town, constructed a tin-shed structure in the restricted area and then continued earth filling work there although the Water Development Board (WDB) officials in Magura served two notices on October 1 and October 2, asking Majnu to remove the illegal structure. But Majnu, known as an adherent to ruling Awami League (AL), ignored the notices and WDB authorities filed a criminal case with Magura Sadar police station on October 6, accusing Majnu for violating KPI Act that does not allow any structure within 150 metres of it. As police did not record the case even after 17 days of its filing, Mohammad Faruk Bhuyan, executive engineer of Magura WDB, submitted a petition to the deputy commissioner (DC) in Magura on October 23. On November 5, a team led by the ADC (Revenue) Gautam Chandra Pal and Magura Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Tabibur Rahman measured the land. But the team is yet to submit the measurement report to the DC for taking action as of yesterday, said sources in the DC office and WDB. Such inaction is actually facilitating the alleged land grabber, said civil society leaders in Magura. "The measurement team's role is already under question as they did not settle the matter of the illegal structure built by Majnu although the KPI Act prohibits construction of any structure within 150 metres of the installation," advocate Islam Ali Sardar, former president of Magura district lawyers association, told this correspondent. Captain (rtd) Khalilur Rahman, joint convener of Nagorik Committee, a citizens' body in Magura, said, "The mysterious role of the district administration over giving the decision about the illegal structure now leads us to suspect that they are the party to the illegal act done by Majnu." When contacted, ADC Gautam Chandra Pal said, "The allegation of being party to the act of Majnu as a baseless one. Preparation of the land measurement report is delayed as the UNO in Magura Sadar was very busy during the last few days. Lawful step regarding the issue will be taken within a few days." If any multi-storied building is constructed on the land adjacent to Nabaganga regulator on Magura-Dhaka highway, the KPI will face the threat of collapse and the communication between Dhaka and 10 south-western districts will be disrupted, said sources in Magura WDB.
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