Two BNP Leaders Accused of Building on Water Development Board Land in Lakshmipur; Work Ordered Stopped
In Lakshmipur, two BNP leaders, Riaz Hossain and Saiful Islam Sohag, have been accused of illegally occupying fallow land of the Water Development Board by building a tin house on it.
On Thursday (12 November), Water Development Board official Saki Hossain and surveyor Shahriar Hossain visited the site and ordered the construction work to be stopped.
Riaz Hossain is general secretary of the Bhabhaniganj Miyaberi ward BNP and Sohag is vice-president of the Bhabhaniganj Union Sramik Dal. The allegation says they were assisted in occupying the land by Tarek, Rubel, Raju, Raja and Sohel, all residents of the same Miyar Beri area.
They built the tin house on Water Development Board land in the southern part of Miyar Beri bazaar in Bhabhaniganj Union of Sadar upazila. Preparations were now under way there for a permanent structure, and sand filling work was seen on the land during a spot visit.
Inquiries found that the tin house was built two months ago without taking a lease on the board's land in the southern part of Miyar Beri bazaar. Bricks and sand have now been brought in to build a permanent structure.
Saiful Islam Sohag, vice-president of the Bhabhaniganj Union Sramik Dal, said that as political leaders and activists had no fixed place to sit, sand was filled and a house built and repaired there for sitting. He also said there is some dispute over the place.
Nasir Hossain, sub-divisional engineer of the Lakshmipur Water Development Board, said a complaint would first be filed with the police station and a notice would be served to remove the house within seven days. Legal action would be taken against the occupants if the order is disobeyed, he said.
Wahed Parvez, officer-in-charge of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station, said he had heard about the incident and action would be taken if a complaint is received.
