Illegal structures rebuilt on rly land in Saidpur
Government Railway Police (GRP) demolished an illegal structure on the land of Sahebpara railway colony under Saidpur municipality on Tuesday but illegal occupiers reconstructed the structure at night the same day.
The grabbers also obstructed the flow of wastewater from the colony through a drain running through the land, which is only 50 metres away from Saidpur Railway Workshop, and it poses health hazard in the area, said locals and railway employees living in the colony.
"Local businessman Ahmed Ali engaged some musclemen to grab 250 square feet railway land to make a business set up at Sahebpara rail colony and started construction of a brick built structure there on Sunday," said Touhidul Islam, senior sub-assistant engineer of Railway Works Department in Saidpur.
"As I rushed to the spot and tried to resist the illegal construction, a group of youths identifying themselves as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League hurled abuses at me. After knowing my identity, they attacked me physically," he said.
Contacted, alleged grabber Ahmed Ali refuted the allegation of assaulting the railway engineer by local youths and said, "Most of the railway land in the municipality had already been grabbed and the railway officers concerned turned a blind eye. Why should my work be obstructed?"
Following a complaint by Monwar Hossain, an employee of Railway Estate Department in Saidpur, police went to the spot and drove away the grabbers and demolished the illegal structure there on Tuesday noon but the grabbers constructed a brick built structure on the land within hours on Tuesday night, said locals.
"The grabbers obstructed flow of wastewater through the drain inside the grabbed area, causing health hazard. They are also threatening locals of dire consequences if police or railway officials are informed of the matter," Shakila Banu, a housewife living in the railway quarters close to the spot, told the journalists.
Visiting the spot on Wednesday, it was found that the grabbers encircled the grabbed land including the newly constructed structure with corrugated iron sheet fencing.
Saju Mia, officer in charge of Saidpur GRP Police Station, said police will again demolish the illegal structure and take stern action against the grabbers.
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