Minister warns of stern action against land grabbers

Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque yesterday categorically said stringent actions would be taken against the land grabbers, who illegally occupied the government lands, causing immense sufferings to the people.
“Stern actions would be taken against the land grabbers, whoever he or she may be,” he told reporters after inaugurating a two-day regional seminar at IDB Bhaban in the city.
Bangladesh Association of Consulting Engineers (BACE) and Technical Consultancy Development Programme for Asia and the Pacific (TCDPAP) jointly organised the seminar on 'Role of engineers in tackling climate change'.
Environmentalists, engineers and researchers spoke at the seminar with BACE President Mahbub Haque in the chair.
About Tuesday's landslide, Dr Razzaque said poverty is the root cause for landslide and he already talked to the Prime Minister about it.
“Take stern action against those who are involved in land grabbing,” he said quoting the PM.
Money and rice have already been allocated for the landslide victims and special allocations would also be given to them in Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts.
Besides, he said, the government has decided to plant huge trees around the hilly areas shortly after discussing the matter with the department of forest.
Commenting on disbursement of funds for tackling climate change, he said the government is no more interested in spending money for holding seminars and symposiums. About 80 percent climate funds would be spent for the benefit of climate victims, he added.
Describing the Dhaka city as the most risky metropolis in the world, Dr Razzaque said process is underway to construct some government buildings as retrofit building models to encourage others.
Ainun Nishat, a noted environmentalist, urged the government to form an expert team for carrying out a soil study in the hilly areas to find out an appropriate drainage system.