Influential and wealthy land grabbers have seized the properties of 12 government primary schools across Dhaka and illegally built houses and markets on them.
According to insider sources, these 12 were included on a list of 23 schools made by the Standing Committee on Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in 2014, which were under occupation.
A sub-committee later inspected those schools and recommended that necessary steps be taken to free these schools from illegal occupation.
However, a recent inspection by the Bangla Tribune three years later has found that land belonging to at least 12 of the listed schools is still occupied by influential locals, while land of another five has been grabbed by other educational institutions.
The District Primary Education Office of Dhaka has made several recommendations prompting action against people who have illegally constructed buildings on school properties, but the officials concerned are yet to follow through.
Shaheen Government Primary School, located in the Mohammadpur area of the capital, has lost more than 85% of its land to illegal occupiers. The land grabbers are constructing residential buildings within an arm’s length of the school and have also blocked off the main entrance.
Headmistress Mahfuza Ahmed said the situation is “dire” in Shaheen school and there is no solution in sight.
“Most of the illegal occupiers are non-Bangali people,” she said. “Due to a High Court order, the government cannot return the land to the school until the illegal occupiers are rehabilitated. The occupiers will take over the school if they are given the chance to do it.”
Illegal concrete building on the premises of P & E Government Primary School
Rashid Al Ruhani/Bangla TribuneAt least 10 more schools across the Dhaka city are facing a similar dilemma.
For example, Choto Katra Government Primary School is taking classes in another school as its own building is in a derelict state, while a local influential businessman built a junkyard in front of the Gandaria Mohila Somiti Government Primary School nine years ago.
The junkyard has nearly blocked off the front entrance of the school, creating noise pollution which is slowly causing students to abandon their classes.
Illegal occupiers have built shops on the land of Sutrapur MA Alim Primary School, while illegal parking has become a serious problem in front of the Gabtoli Government Primary School.
In Pallabi, a part of the land belonging to Abdul Mannan Primary School has been occupied by non-Bangalis. Locals have also taken over the land property of Bonoful Primary School, located in the same area.
Land belonging to major educational institutions such as Taltola Government Primary School in Agargaon and Borabo Primary School in Mohammadpur has also been occupied.
Shacks illegally built on the premises of P & E Government Primary School
Rashid Al Ruhani/Bangla TribuneLand belonging to P & E Government Primary School in Motijheel has been occupied by the institution’s own employees and family members of the previous principal.
In most cases, the Standing Committee on Ministry of Primary and Mass Education recommended that those illegal occupants be evicted through legal means.
The committee also instructed school authorities to apply to the district deputy commissioner so that legal action can be taken to resolve the issue.
Dhaka District Primary Education Officer Shahin Ara Begum pointed out that one of the major hurdles of evicting illegal occupiers is the lengthy legal process.
“We will need the support of local public representatives to free the occupied land belonging to these schools. This process could take some time, and we have made progress in freeing the land in some of the schools in Dhaka,” she added.
This article was first published on Bangla Tribune
