Editorial
Land grabbed with impunity
Enforce law strictly
While we get to hear, courtesy the media, about big chunks of land being illegally grabbed by big-scale land-grabbers, hardly do we come by news exposing small timers in this regard commandeering small pieces of land that do not belong to them. One such incident has recently come to our knowledge from a report in this newspaper. In this instance a substantial portion of 1.75 acre of public land belonging to government health complex in Patuakhali has been occupied illegally, ostensibly for the purpose of constructing markets.
What surprises us is not only the display of arrogance but also the scant respect for the law that these people have demonstrated, and that perhaps because they are linked to the politically powerful. Two of three alleged grabbers, reportedly, belong to the Awami League. They have pulled down the wall of the complex that houses the health complex staff, dismissing even the need for obtaining official sanction allotting them not only that piece of khas land but also the permission to construct markets there.
We are even more surprised at the reaction of the police who did not take action on grounds of technicality, that the health complex authorities filed a GD only and not a case accusing anyone. One wonders whether the police cannot take suo moto cognizance of a case that involves demolition of structures and illegal occupation of a piece of khas land.
The attitude that all that belongs to the government belongs to me automatically has influenced the psyche of some cadres of the ruling party. And regrettably, the administration seems either unable or is unwilling to act as per law fearing political wrath. While the local administration should proceed under the law against these land-grabbers, the party must prevail on its workers to desist from activities that undermine party and government credibility.
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