700 rly quarters under illegal occupation
At least 700 of 1050 railway staff quarters under Lalmonirhat Railway Division of West Zone Railway went under illegal occupation during the last three decades, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned.
Anti-social and criminals activities occur in the illegally occupied quarters in Babupara, Station Road, Driver Para, Saheb Para, Surkimil Colony, Wireless Colony, Store Para, Hospital Road, Down Yard Para and New Colony areas in Lalmonirhat town but there is hardly any action, said locals.
Now only 350 staff quarters are legally used by railway employees, said sources at Lalmonirhat Divisional Railway Engineer's Office.
Of the 700 other flats, 250 are under illegal occupation by railway officials, 200 by political party men and 250 others by general people, said officials seeking anonymity.
Most of the illegal occupiers have rented the quarters for Tk 1000 to 2,500 a month each, they said.
Local people alleged that drug peddling, gambling and prostitution are conducted in most of the grabbed staff quarters.
Several people living in the railway staff quarters at Saheb Para said they took the flats from railway officials and political party men on monthly payment basis.
They admitted that unwanted incidents frequently occur at many quarters.
Abul Kashem, officer in charge of GRP Police Station in Lalmonirhat, said, "Our duty is to ensure security of train passengers at the stations and trains. If the officials call us, we will conduct drive against alleged anti-social activities in the occupied quarters."
Ariful Islam, divisional engineer of railway in Lalmonirhat, said, "As many of the railway staff quarters remained unused for long, those went under illegal occupation. I have sent letters to the higher authorities seeking decision about these grabbed staff quarters but no response till now."
"I will call railway police to conduct drive against anti-social activities at these grabbed quarters soon," he said.
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