No let-up in land grabbing
Allegations of land grabbing continue to pour in from all over the country. In addition to foreshores, water bodies and arable lands the malady is now spreading into graveyards and cremation grounds.
In Chittagong, a housing company is said to have grabbed nearly one acre cremation ground and a large portion of a temple over the last two years. The company is also forcibly purchasing arable lands for its housing project without approval from the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA). The CDA conveyed its disapproval to the company saying that the lands were arable. In spite of that the company continues to sell plots on such farm lands.
Land grabbing and the haughty denial of the grabbers of any wrongdoing continue unabated. Interestingly, grabbers continue poaching spaces and the authorities concerned issue orders to stop the crime. Then there is no follow-up. And when the authority intervenes it comes too late in the day by which time companies establish some sort of claim over the lands.
It is evident that the government is helpless in the face of their incorrigible defiance of law and let them get away with whatever they do. In most cases they are in collusion with officials in committing such crimes.
In recent past, there were reports of clearing parts of hills in Chittagong for housing projects, which led to heavy mudslide and loss of lives in the region.
We call upon the authorities, not only in Chittagong and Dhaka, but all over the country, to show zero tolerance and take stern measures against the realtors to stop this land piracy. They not only cause huge ecological imbalance and loss of valuable lands but also deprive thousands of people who are the legal owners of the land.
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