64pc land of jute corporation lost to grabbers: BJC tells JS body

Land grabbers are occupying sixty-four percent of land of Bangladesh Jute Corporation (BJC), a parliamentary body was informed today.

BJC informed the parliamentary standing committee on the textile and jute ministry that the total amount of land under BJC is 295.17 acres. Of the total land, 190.04 acres have already been grabbed while 105.13 acres of land remain under the jurisdiction of the government organisation.

A former state minister is among 863 people responsible for grabbing the lands, it said. Besides, authorities of various mosques, temples and madrasas grabbed some properties of BJC.

BJC revealed this information to the parliamentary body in a report. The list of grabbers includes government slaughterhouses, bihari camp, municipality, market, chamber of commerce, rickshaw workers union, fire stations, educational institutions, health complex, land office, post office, telephone office, local clubs.

BJC's immovable assets include 797 houses, 1,924 trees, 62 office buildings, 120 warehouses, 21 presses, 29 shops, 19 educational institutions, one mosque, one temple and two machineries, the report read.

A total of 299 cases have been filed by BJC in connection with the land grabbing which remains pending at different courts. Among them, 14 are in the Supreme Court, 86 in the High Court and 187 in lower courts, it added.

The parliamentary body has recommended placing a list of grabbed lands before the prime minister for her suggestion to recover the properties.

It also recommended depositing the money to state exchequer that will be earned by selling the illegally occupied unused land.

Awami League MP Mirza Azam, chairman of the parliamentary watchdog, presided over the meeting.