DoE foils lake grabbing move
The Department of Environment (DoE) yesterday stopped a move for grabbing Rupnagar Lake in the capital's Pallabi area.
A DoE enforcement team found that Pallabi Arambagh Kalyan Samity was developing the Lake's a chunk of 13-katha land, owned by National Housing Authority, in the name of making it an Eidgah field, said a press release.
DoE Director Mohammad Munir Chowdhury said they summoned the Samity's two members Abdul Quayum and Lutfor Rahman.
Both of them admitted that the portion of the land was a part of the lake, he said.
Contacted, Quayum said the chunk of the land was filled-up over the time. They were developing it following an instruction by the local lawmaker for holding the upcoming Eid-ul Azha prayers there.
"The lawmaker asked us to take care of the ground and he himself inaugurated it as an Eidgah field during the last Eid-ul Fitr," Quayum said.
"He [the lawmaker] also said that he would manage the official permission for the land," he said.
Despite efforts, the lawmaker could not be contacted over the cellphone.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments