Influentials grab lands along roads in Satkhira

An illegal structure is being built along the Itagachha-Kamalnagar road in Satkhira. PHOTO: STAR

They are rebuilding illegal structures under the very nose of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) authorities who bulldozed those, built at a cost of Tk 10 lakh.

Local people expressed their dissatisfaction over the mysterious role played by local administration and the concerned department in this regard.

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Former Deputy Commissioner Abdul Matin Chowdhury took the initiative to demolish the structures by deploying magistrates and police.

The drive continued for two months during the Clean Heart Operation-2002.

Influential people are creating false documents to grab the lands. Over 100 unauthorised structures were built along the busy Kamalnagar-Itagachha area in the town while over 1,000 unauthorised structures were rebuilt on both sides of Satkhira-Munshiganj highway. But no action is in sight till filing of the report on Tuesday.

A source in the RHD, on condition of anonymity, told this correspondent no step could be taken against the illegal occupants and unauthorised structures due to departmental complication, political pressure from the ruling party and influential people.

An official of the RHD, Satkhira, seeking not to be named, told this correspondent that the influential people had been grabbing lands of the department by creating false documents in connivance with a section of unscrupulous officials and staff of the department.

Illegal occupants claimed they have legal documents with them for building the srtuctures.

On contact, Md Elias, Deputy Commissioner, Satkhira told The Daily Star he already instructed the executive engineer of RHD, Satkhira over phone to take action against illegal occupants.

'If needed, the unauthorised structures will be demolished by deploying magistrate and police again,'the DC added. Abdul Mannan, Executive Engineer of the RHD, Satkhira told this correspondent that he is helpless 'because of political pressure'.

He, however, informed that the list of illegal occupants was sent to the higher authorities concerned for taking action against them.