Concrete wall on market land!
A local influential man continued constructing a concrete wall occupying front side of a market, erected on a private land, near Kalaiya Launch Terminal in Baufal upazila.
Due to the illegal construction work entrance to at least 28 shops have been completely blocked, causing financial losses to the shop owners as they are unable to open their shops.
Several workers, engaged in the construction work, said AKM Farid Mollah, younger brother of local ruling party Lawmaker ASM Feroz is constructing the wall.
During a visit to the area on Saturday, this correspondent found that some workers were constructing a wall in the front of Haji Shahid Market, owned by one Shahid Alam.
While talking to this correspondent Shahid said he owned 65 decimals of the land on the west side of the launch terminal, while Delwara Runu, wife of Lawmaker ASM Firoz, possesses another 65 decimals of land on the opposite side.
In 2013, he built a 375-foot-long market beside the government road that connects the launch terminal, he said, adding that there are a total of 28 shops, including groceries, hardware, medicine and fruit shops, in the market.
Besides, there is another shop on the land owned by the lawmaker's wife on the east side of the terminal.
Shahid alleged that Farid started erecting the wall in front of the market blocking way of all the shops in his market on last Thursday.
Shahid said they are not dared to protest the illegal act as Farid belongs to a local influential family.
One of the traders, seeking anonymity, said one can clearly see that the wall is of no use but to obstruct the way to the only market in the area.
Contacted, Farid Mollah said the government had built the road on their land.
They have another eight-foot land on the west side of the road, he said, adding that he is constructing the wall on that land.
Baufal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Zakir Hossain said it is totally wrong to obstruct other people's movement by building concrete wall just beside a government road.
Despite repeated attempts, this correspondent could not reach Lawmaker ASM Feroz for his comment in his regard as he didn't received the phone calls.
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