Editorial
Land grab in Cox's Bazar
Bring these criminals before the law
DESPITE all the concerns that have been raised in the recent past about the many instances of illegal land grabbing across the country, the menace appears to have gone on. The impunity with which such activities are resorted to by individuals as well as groups has left the nation amazed at the audacity with which they have indulged in such misdeeds. The bigger concern is the failure of the authorities to put an end to such acts effectively through deterrent punishment being meted out to them. And it is because of such a failure that certain sections of people have continued to grab land that belongs to either the government or individuals.
The latest that we have here is news of a fresh attempt to seize land illegally in Cox's Bazar. This time it is under the leadership of a woman that some people quickly put up two corrugated tin-shed houses in a hill area at Kolatoli of Cox's Bazar under the banner of 'Office of Bangladesh Freedom Fighters' Rehabilitation Society'. It is very clear that the person in question had no authorization to put up the two structures and yet the surprising bit here is her defence that the land had earlier been proposed as a site during the period of the past elected government for the office she was acting on behalf of. More tellingly, when a group of Muktijoddha Sangsad officials asked her to desist from occupying the land in the name of the freedom fighters, she paid no heed and went on with her work. That is perhaps a powerful hint of the clout people like her have and the links they may have with unsavoury quarters. The good news about the episode in Cox's Bazar is that eventually the Forest Department was able to demolish the illegal constructions. That ought to be a satisfying end to the drama, but it should not be for the simple reason that in and around Cox's Bazaar similar instances of land grab have been going on without any action being taken against those involved. In places like Kolatoli and Lalpara, no fewer than 1,000 houses have been constructed on 700 acres of land that are rightfully the property of the Forest Department. There are at least 1,00,000 people who happen to be residing in these houses.
All of these are incidents that increase citizens' worries to a huge extent. We at this newspaper have consistently argued, along with other socially conscious sections of society, that every illegal or predatory act on the part of anyone must be handled with a resolute hand. Unless firmness of action and purpose is in demonstration, the elements behind such criminal acts will go on having a field day. Let the authorities set an example, through bringing the Cox's Bazar land grabbers to justice. It is not enough to free the land of these people. They must also be penalized for their criminal acts.
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