In a bold move of Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammed Zahidul Islam Mian, nearly 23 acres of land, worth estimated to be Tk 60 crore, were freed from the local influential grabbers in Araihazar upazila.
The land, located beside the Narayanganj–Brahmanbaria highway near the Bishnandi ferry ghat, has now been officially recorded under government ownership in the khas khatian (state land registry).
Following the partition of India in 1947, the Hindu owners of the property migrated to India, leaving the land abandoned. Taking advantage of the situation, over a hundred local families began cultivating the land.
In 2020, former local MP Nazrul Islam Babu’s associates allegedly took control over the land from farmers and started illegal sand trading businesses there. Later, on August 5, local BNP activists also attempted to capture the land, creating tensions and raising fears of violent clashes in the area.
Araihazar Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Nyem Uddin said, “Claimants were asked to submit documents, but during hearings, it was verified that all claims were fake. I submitted multiple reports on this to the UNO (Upazila Nirbahi Officer). The market value of this land would be around Tk 60 crore.”
Araihazar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mamunur Rashid forwarded the final report to the DC, who signed the official order on Tuesday (September 16) to record the land under khas khatian No. 1.
DC Zahidul Islam said, “We have decided to establish a beautiful eco-park on this land.”
Md Abdul Halim, a teacher of Bishnandi Government Primary School, said, “My forefathers cultivated this land for generations. But in 2020, cohorts of ex-MP seized it from us. If the government builds an eco-park, we have no objection—as long as powerful groups cannot grab it again.”
