People the question whether the authorities concerned can oust the grabbers from the railway land. Are they (grabbers) more influential and powerful than the government?
The amount of total land of Bangladesh Railway is 58,470 acres. Of them over 2,817 acres of land remain under illegal occupation.
Individuals, private, semi-government, autonomous, religious and educational institutions grabbed the railway land and the grabbing goes on unabated at Syedpur in Nilphamari district under the very nose of the authorities concerned.
Local influential and hoodlums in an unholy nexus with a section of unscrupulous employees of the railway division continued grabbing the railway land even after repeated eviction drives were conducted, according to media reports. Apart from Syedpur, land of railways still remain grabbed in different places of the country.
Besides, railway land scattered across the country is also currently under occupation of semi-government, autonomous, religious and educational institutions. Though initiatives were taken several times to recover the grabbed land from the influential vested quarters, we think the halfhearted’ measure has not yielded any positive result.
Over 2,817 acres of
land remain under
illegal occupation
Apart from the government measures, human chains, discussions, and rallies are still being held in order to free the grabbed lands of railway. But, railway land-grabbing continues in the country till date.
Local influential, political leaders and musclemen are developing structures in the name of various associations, religious institutions, business establishments and makeshift houses on the railway land. Everything is happening under the nose of the railway authorities concerned. So, the railway ministry will have to launch crackdown against the influential people who grabbed he railway land. While recovering the land, the authorities concerned faced challenges several times.
Therefore, the authorities concerned must overcome hurdles successfully and recover the land. We think it is not possible to protect railway land unless the influential people are brought to book immediately.
Stern action should be taken immediately against the people who are involved in grabbing the railway land. We believe no mercy will be shown to them in this regard.
Now time has come for us to recover the grabbed land at any cost. Efforts should be on to recover the remaining land with the assistance of local representatives and local administration.