A total 100 acres of government land with 15 ponds worth about Tk 700 crore have been recovered during the drive carried out by Chittagong district administration.
The drive was conducted from 9:00am to 3:00pm on Thursday, under the leadership of District Administration Executive Magistrate and Kattoli Circle Assistant Commissioner (Land) Umar Farooq, to recover the government land and ponds from illegal occupation in North Kattoli area of the sea coast.
The government land with ponds in North Kattoli coastal area were illegally occupied by a dishonest circle for many years. Recently, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abul Basar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman found the illegal occupation of the land and ponds. He directed the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Kattoli Circle to recover the ponds along with the Government Khas land. 100 acres of Khas land with 15 ponds were recovered through a successful operation. The market value of government khas land is around Tk 700 crore.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Umar Faruq, who jointly conducted the operation, said, “We have recovered about 100 acres of land that has been lying vacant for a long time today by conducting operation.
A group of people had illegally occupied this place for many years. About 30 small and big illegal structures were removed during the raid.
Electricity connection was also disconnected. Ten government signboards have been put up with instructions to prevent from illegal encroachment”.
Deputy Commissioner Abul Basar Mohammad Fakhruzzaman said that about 194 acres of government land has been recovered in Sitakunda area. In continuation of that, today we have recovered about 100 acres of government land with 15 ponds. For many years, a circle had been occupying this place illegally.
Initiatives have been taken to recover the dispossessed government land of Chattogram city corporation and upazila.
Mangrove forest, protected forest, cycling track, endangered wildlife conservation center etc. will be developed on this recovered land along the Marine Drive.
He said that full-time Ansar members have been deployed to prevent encroachment on the recovered site. Already 10 signboards with prohibitions have been put up. Even after this, if anyone tries to enter or occupy the site illegally, strict legal action will be taken against them.
CMP members along with district administration employees and electricity department employees were in the raid.
