Rly demolishes illegal structures

The authorities of railway west zone yesterday demolished around 500 illegal shops and establishments built on railway land in eight northern districts.

The illegal structures, owned by general people were demolished but those owned by political leaders and their musclemen remained untouched due to unknown reason, locals alleged.

Railway officials said, around 9,700 illegal structures have been marked for demolition in eight districts-- Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Bogra, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh under the railway division.

Earlier, the owners of these illegal structures were served notices for one month.

Manik Mia, owner of an illegal structure at Mogholhat rail gate in the town, said he had been running a small business in a tin-shed shop on railway land.

“Our structures were demolished yesterday but the eviction team did not touch a single brick of structures owned by political leaders and musclemen in the town,” he said.

“A large number of illegal structures on railway land are owned by identified political leaders but the railway authorities are not demolishing these,” said fruit trader Nuru Mia at the railway gate.

Lalmonirhat Railway Divisional Estate Officer (DEO) Ashish Kumar Chakrabarty said that the eviction drive would continue and the railway authorities will free all the railway lands.

However, he remained silent when asked why the eviction team did not demolish the illegal structures owned by political leaders and their musclemen.