The Ministry of Railways has issued a public notice instructing the removal of illegal encroachments on railway land countrywide by December 10 through voluntary action and warned of strict measures in case of non-compliance.
But, the encroachers paid no heed to the directive, other than capturing new lands.
Many encroachers are lobbying to have their names removed from the eviction list, a source, wishing to be unnamed, said, adding: “Officers who previously facilitated those encroachers in exchange of unethical benefits are now in trouble.”
He added that these officials now are advising encroachers on how to prepare documents to obtain court-issued stay orders.
In such situation, Railways officials fear that the actual amount of encroached land may be underreported in official records. Allegations suggest that while the railway continues to incur financial losses, some of its officials have amassed significant wealth through land encroachment deals.
Occasionally, ‘so-called’ eviction drives are organized, but these often serve as opportunities for unethical transactions. Once the deals are made, the operations are halted, he continued.
Md Fahimul Islam, Secretary of Railways ministry, on Thursday told Bangladesh Pratidin that the eviction drives are not made yet to begin. Lists are being prepared, and slots are being allocated. The eviction drive will commence soon.”
It was known that various infrastructures including multi-story buildings, shops, markets, political offices, religious institutions, clubs, playgrounds, and parks, have been built on illegally occupied railway land across the country. Some individuals have even used forged documents to claim ownership of railway property.
However, these establishments generate no money for railways.
In Dhaka, the City Corporation constructed 12 multi-story markets, including Anandabazar Market, on railway land at the old Fulbaria Station and Khilgaon areas. However, the Anandabazar Market went out of corporation’s control. The City Corporation and Railways Ministry together are trying to reclaim it, but failed over and over again.
On the other hand, the railways ministry also earns no money from the remaining 11 markets.
In Syedpur, Nilphamari, allegations have surfaced about illegal encroachment on railway property worth around 5,000 crore taka. The shops inside Dhaka’s Airport Railway Station don’t pay rent to the railway.
In the Kuril Bishwa Road area, attempts are underway to grab 1.84 acres of railway land. Following the Ministry’s directive to clear encroachments, the land was filled, and a park’s signboard was erected. A portion of the land also displays a temple’s signboard.
There is widespread confusion regarding the actual amount of encroached railway land. Ministry documents indicate that the railway owns a total of 61,820.97 acres of land, of which approximately 30,286 acres are in use for railway operations, and 14,473 acres are leased. However, 6,840 acres are reported as illegally occupied. The Railway Estate Department, however, estimates that the actual amount of encroached land exceeds 10,000 acres.
Translated by Afsar Munna
