Grabbers building structures on govt pond in Mymensingh

Komor Dighi, a century-old government owned pond at village Sowaetpur in Phulbaira upazila of the district is allegedly being grabbed by influential quarters.

The pond was dug on 2.51 acres of land during the British regime by the then zaminders of Muktagacha, local sources said.

The authorities concerned leased the pond for a three-year term every year. This year, they leased it to Naugoan Matshajibi Samabaya Samity of Phulbaria, sources said.

Local people alleged that Harun-ur-Rashid, a corrugated iron sheet businessman of Sowaetpur, started construction of a multi-storied building for business purposes after filling up a portion of the pond several months ago, but the authorities concerned have not taken any steps to stop the illegal construction of the building.

Harun's brother Mukbul Hossain and one Habi Khan have also erected four tin-sheds on a portion of the pond. The three have already grabbed around seven decimals of the pond, locals said.

The upazila administration was recently informed about the grabbing of the pond. It has asked the grabber, Harun, to stop the construction of his multi-storied building, said Afroza Akhtar, Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Phulbaria. But the construction work is still going on, it was alleged.

“We sent an application to the deputy commissioner of Mymensingh, seeking permission to evict the grabbers. We will serve eviction notice on the grabbers after getting permission,” said the land official.

If the vested quarters defy the eviction notice and do not stop grabbing of the pond, the local administration will take punitive measures against them, the official added.

Contacted, Harun-ur-Rashid said he did not grab the pond's land and is constructing the building on his own land. He added that he has the necessary documents in support of his claim.

Banani Biswas, upazila nirbahi officer of Phulbaria, said stern action will be taken against the grabbers.