A union parishad chairman has been building markets, allegedly on government land, in Saghata upazila, Gaibandha district.
It was alleged that the land grabber is Bonarpara union parishad chairman Ahsanul Huq, also an Awami League activist in the union.
Md Abdul Awal, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, told journalists that Chairman Ahsanul Huq had been constructing concrete structures on the land without the permission of the local government ministry.
“The permission of the ministry is a must for building any structure on government land,” he said, adding that the concerned authorities have been informed about the matter.
The union office is situated in Shimultair village in the upazila, some 35km from Gaibandha town.
A source said all official activities were being conducted in a temporary building as the government was yet to erect any permanent structure for the union parishad.
But the UP chairman began constructing concrete structures without permission from the ministry.
Asked about the construction, locals refused to make any comment for fear of being harassed by the chairman’s cadre.
Former UP chairman Wares Ali said the government allotted 57 decimals of land for the union office.
Of that land, Ahsanul Huq has grabbed around 37 decimals and left the rest for the union office.
They have been building illegally since locals dare not protest the illegal acts of the chairman, Ali added.
Abdul Wares, acting president of the upazila Awami League, said: “We do not have any personal connection with the chairman although we support the same party.”
The chairman was a close friend of Fazle Rabbi Mia, an Awami League lawmaker from the Gaibandha 5 constituency, from whom Ahsanul got the nod, he added.
But the lawmaker refused the allegation against him.
Rather, he laid the blame on Abdul Wares. He said Wares always spoke against him.
“I am not aware of the market construction,” he said, adding that “the chairman should be punished if he really occupied the government land.”
On the otherhand, Chairman Ahsanul Huq gave his version of events, saying that a decision was made in a union parishad meeting to build markets on the land to raise the income of the union parishad.
Asked whether he had taken any permission from the government, the chairman refused to make any comment over the matter.
A union parishad member, requesting anonymity, said no such decision was taken in regards to constructing markets on the land.
Deputy Commissioner Anwarul Huq said the UNO was asked to investigate the allegation.
“We will go into action after receiving the report,” he added.
