A group of land grabbers, led by a land department official, is constructing a kitchen market over a canal at Nathullabad in the Barisal city.
Ali Ahmed, a local resident opposing the construction of the kitchen market, said operating kitchen market in the area would create health hazards, hamper traffic and lead to the filling up of the canal destroying the drainage and sewerage facilities.
Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, an activist of the movement for preservation and recovery of canal, ponds, wetlands in the city, said government and local government authourities were responsible and bound to execute the related laws to stop and evict the grabbers.
After visiting the spot and talking to the local people and the grabbers’ group, it was seen that construction of at least 18 shops on 300 yards of the canal near the Nathullabad Bridge was going on in full swing.
Zillur Rahman, sub-assistant land officer of Banaripara upazila of Barisal, is leading the grabbers’ group comprised of Makbul Mridha, Nur Alam, Sultan Sharif, Md Harun, Md Mamun and others.
Makbul Mridha, president Nathullabad Khudra Bebasayee Samity, claimed that the city mayor had given them permission to run a kitchen market at the spot and Zillur, taking lease from Zila Parishad, is constructing stalls for that market on the canal.
Nur Alam said Zillur was constructing 18 stalls to give them on sub-lease to small businessmen including him and others.
Sultan Sharif, denying any involvement in constructing the stalls by grabbing canal, said someone misquoted his name.
Zillur Rahman, the sub-assistant land officer, claimed that he legally take the space on lease from Zila Parishad, and with the permission and consent from Barisal city mayor, we are constructing the stalls.
However Makbul Hossain, chief executive officer of Barisal Zila Parishad, said Zila Parishad never gave any permission or any lease of that canal or its bank to anybody and the construction was illegal.
Ahsan Habib Kamal, the mayor, also denied giving any permission or consent to the construction of the stalls.
Abdus Salam, BCC market inspector, said, visiting the spot, he submitted report against the illegal construction of the market.
Nikhil Chandra Das, chief executive officer of the city corporation, said a group of small businessmen requested him to give ten days for removing the structures.
After that period the city corporation will launch eviction drive, he said.
-With New Age input
