Land grabbing of Bangladesh Railway is going on unabated at Syedpur in Nilphamari district under the very nose of the authorities concerned. Local influential and hoodlums in association with a section of unscrupulous employees of the railway division continued grabbing the railway lands even after repeated eviction drives were conducted, according to media reports.
The amount of total land of Bangladesh Railway is 58,470 acres. Of them over 2,817 acres of land remain under illegal occupation. In the last month the High Court ordered authorities concerned to prepare a list of people grabbed lands of railway across the country and submit before it within 30 days in this regard.
The court in its rule asked respondents to explain as to why it shall not declare illegal their inaction in freeing the railway lands from grabbing and why the court shall not pass order to evict the occupiers in different districts.
The court asked officials concerned including secretary and director general of Bangladesh Railway, director and assistant estate officer of railway to respond within two weeks.
Immediate action should
be taken against the people
who are involved in grabbing
the railway land
The railway ministry will have to intensify eviction drive across the country in order to oust the grabbers from the railway land. However, though many initiatives were taken several times with a high hope to recover the grabbed land from the influential vested quarters, we think the halfhearted measure has not yielded any positive result.
Apart from the government measures, human chains, discussions, and rallies are still being held in order to free the grabbed lands of railway from this organised gang of criminals. But, railway land-grabbing continues in the country till date.
Local influential, political leaders and musclemen are developing structures in the name various association, religious institutions, hut, business establishments and makeshift houses on the railway land. Everything is happening under the nose of the railway authorities concerned.
While recovering the land, the authorities concerned faced challenges in several times. We think it is not possible to protect railway land unless the influential people are brought to book immediately.
Immediate action should be taken against the people who are involved in grabbing the railway land. The ministry concerned will have to pay heed to the HC order in this regard. Besides, efforts should be on to recover the remaining land with the assistance of local representatives and local administrations.
