Government land worth around Tk1 crore has been grabbed at Fatehpur Bazar under Mirzapur upazila in the district with the connivance of land officials.
Sources said local UP member Abdur Razzak Sikder grabbed 36 decimals land near the 100-year-old bazar.
It was found that the UP member filled the land with earth recently. He also set up a concrete structure there.
Gafur Sikder, president of Fatehpur Bazar Traders’ Association, said the land was owned by local Hindus. They went to India in 1971 leaving it. The government had taken over the land in 2004.
Razzak along with his associates grabbed the land with false documents in connivance with some land officials.
Razzak also made some shops on the land earlier which are currently rented out.
Fatepur UP chairman Humayun Talukder said: “Razzak grabbed the land with the connivance of some govt officials.”
Md Selim Reza, officer of Fatehpur Land Office, said: “Razzak built the structure on 36 decimals land on 6 March at the demarcation No 896 and 897 when the office was closed.”
“He was asked to stop the work immediately,” the officer said.
When contacted, Razzak said: “I have bought the land from the government nine years ago with proper documents.”
“But unfortunately, the officials have forbidden me recently not for building the structure,” he said. Md Selim Reza, Assistant Commissioner of Mirzapur upazila land office said: “Razzak has been prohibited from building the structure after locals brought allegation against him.”
“An investigation is going on over the incident,” he added.
