The private companies had allegedly grabbed at least 289 acres of land estimated to be worth around Tk 500 crore.

Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Jamal Hossain Majumder told The Daily Star that the lands grabbed include 173 acres of Khas land (those under state jurisdiction), 19 acres of vested property, 69 acres of Waqf (endowed) property, 9 acres of tea estates, 6.5 acres of Roads and Highways and 11 acres of Bangladesh Railway.

The administration officials at a meeting Thursday asked the real estate companies to free the lands voluntarily and immediately. They directed two companies--Sonargaon Abashik Prokalpa and Royal City Abashik Prokalpa--to keep their businesses (sale and transfer of plots) suspended until further orders.

Besides, the administration asked all the realtors to adhere to the government rules concerning land.

After the present caretaker government took over, a committee led by the additional deputy commissioner (revenue) had conducted an inquiry and detected the cases of massive land grabbing.

Out of 82 Sylhet-based housing companies, 20 were found involved in the land grab. Of them, Jamaat leaders own eight, BNP and Awami League leaders own one each while Khelafat Majlish leaders two. A couple of the projects are under mixed ownership, said sources close to the inquiry.

Of the accused ones, the Royal City Abashik Prokalpa has encroached on a maximum 83 acres of public land in South Surma area. Some BNP and Jamaat leaders own the company. In the same area, the Sonargaon Abashik Prokalpa of Jamaat leaders has illegally occupied 30 acres.