A day-laborer, who was leased a government land, allegedly in the 1980s for 99 years, is illegally building a multistoried structure in Raninagar's Sugandighi of Naogaon.
Sources said, day-laborer Monsur Ali was landless, and he was issued a permanent lease of 0.5 bighas of land for 99 years by the government. Hence, disregarding the lease law he dug a pond, and later began constructing a five-storey building on the land.
According to the upazila office, after learning of the incident, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Monirul Islam Patwari issued an annulment of the lease on February 26, 2013.
However, locals claimed, despite the repeal, Monsur Ali, and his family continued the construction, and also sold some trees surrounding the land without any permission from the authority.
Aftab Pramanik, a local resident said: "Monsur Ali and his wife works as day-laborers, sometimes as domestic helps while their sons are rickshaw van drivers.
"It is really suspicious how they have managed to build a multistoried building costing at least Tk60 lakh," he said.
Local residents also expressed their frustration over Monsur Ali, and his family's misdemeanor, and hostility towards them.
Sharifun Bibi, one of the plaintiffs in a case filed by the locals against Monsur Ali, said: "The whole locality is suffering due to the family's wrongdoings, and their spiteful nature.
"We even filed a case to ensure peace to this area but no steps have been taken yet," she added.
Supporting the claims of the locals, Borogacha UP Chairman Shafiul Alam said: "Despite our repeated cautioning, the family kept being spiteful towards others, and continued constructing the building.
"We informed the local UNO about the matter, and he promised he would look into the matter."
Monsur Ali's wife, Jarina Bibi, another accused in the case, said: "We have valid legal papers, and we are building the structure abiding the state law."
Assistant Commissioner (AC Land) Arif Morshed Mishu said: "They are constructing the building during an on-going trial. It is illegal in every manner, we would seize the land, and tear-down the building in no time after the court delivers a verdict."
