Influentials build houses in khas land

An allegation of constructing building on Khas land has been raised against influential people at Baniarchar village in Jalirpar Union under Muksudpur upazila in Gopalganj.

Local people and revenue office sources said that the construction of a building is going on for a month on government land. This land was under Water Development Board but after publishing BRS gadget it has been transferred to Kh-Revenue sector (Tahsil office).

Most of the land was unused while it was under WDB. Some distressed and landless people were living in some land. But most of the land has been grabbed by local influential people.

In a visit this area 'The Asian Age' Correspondent found, Khagen Biswas, brother of former Jalirpar union chairman Nagen Biswas has sold 5 Katha or 12.5 shotangsho land to Sumon Biswas of Fulkumari village for for Tk 10 Lakh.  Sumon Biswas is constructing high-rise building in that land illegally.

Seeking anonymity local said, 'We have no voice as we are poor and bound to move from here with our belongings to another place.'  The powerful, can enjoy the Khas land while landless like us have no place to live, he added.

Khagen Biswas the brother of former Chairman of Jalirpar union denied of selling land to Sumon Biswas. He said that he just gave some land to Sumon for nothing.  Sumon Biswas said to this correspondent, he has taken the land by writing on stamp personally without recording in land office.

He also said, he has good relation with leaders. Nobody can stop him constructing building in that land. Gopalganj Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Shanti Moni Chakma said to The Asian Age, 'Constructing buildings in government land is illegal.

He has discussed the issue. Already they have appointed magistrate to evict the illegal construction, he added. Jalirpar Union Chairman Akhil Chandra Bairagi said on mobile phone, 'He heard about the construction. It is illegal to build houses in govt land, he added.'

-Md Mizanur Rahman Manik, Gopalganj